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Marching Band and Drum Corps Quizzes, Trivia and Puzzles
Marching Band and Drum Corps Quizzes, Trivia

Marching Band and Drum Corps Trivia

Marching Band and Drum Corps Trivia Quizzes

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13 quizzes and 155 trivia questions.
1.
  Marching Band    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This quiz is all about a marching band and the things that go with it. The questions mostly refer to American Marching Bands and are relates mostly to MCBA Competitions.
Average, 10 Qns, rent_gilmore, Dec 18 19
Average
rent_gilmore
Dec 18 19
2003 plays
2.
  Sousa Favorites    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Find any album of Sousa marches and you can bet your bottom dollar they will include most, if not all of these titles (and even then some). Once again, all information comes from Paul E. Bierley's "John Philip Sousa: A Descriptive Catalog of His Works"
Average, 10 Qns, marchlover, Dec 08 09
Average
marchlover
314 plays
3.
  John Philip Sousa, the March King    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This quiz will explore the life and music of the American composer and band leader John Philip Sousa. All the facts in this quiz come from the books of Paul E. Bierly: "John Philip Sousa: American Phenomenon", and "A Descriptive Catalog of His Works"
Average, 10 Qns, marchlover, Nov 13 09
Average
marchlover
315 plays
4.
  DCI Championships 1981-2005    
Multiple Choice
 25 Qns
The 33rd annual Drum Corps International (DCI) Championships reached its biggest audience in 2005 when broadcast on ESPN2. For this quiz I will give you the year, one musical selection as a hint, and the top four finishers; you identify the champion.
Average, 25 Qns, orlandodaddy, Jul 19 06
Average
orlandodaddy
316 plays
5.
  March Madness...No, Not Basketball!    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Who doesn't love a peppy, sprightly march? They are certainly guaranteed to get the toes tapping and the blood flowing. Let's see how much you know about these alla breve beauties.
Average, 10 Qns, lompocjoe, Mar 19 13
Average
lompocjoe
214 plays
6.
  Drum Corps International    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This is a quiz about all drum corps involved in DCI, or Drum Corps International. Good Luck!
Average, 10 Qns, mysterychick, May 08 18
Average
mysterychick
May 08 18
394 plays
7.
  Drum and Bugle Corps' home towns.   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Simple concept here. I give you the name of a DCI Division I Drum and Bugle Corps, you tell me where their hometown is.
Average, 10 Qns, bmrsnr, Jul 19 06
Average
bmrsnr gold member
634 plays
8.
  Fife and Drum Corps    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This is world history with a musical twist. How well do you know the importance of fife and drum corps in world history?
Tough, 10 Qns, panhead1992, Jul 20 07
Tough
panhead1992
215 plays
9.
  Oh, Those Circus Marches!    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Here is my salute to those good old lip ripping, finger wiggling, lung deflating circus marches.
Average, 10 Qns, marchlover, Jan 22 10
Average
marchlover
213 plays
10.
  British Military Band Music    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Military Musicians are highly skilled performers that don't get the same recognition as other professionals. They are usually seen in the background of many national and international events. How much do you know about military music?
Average, 10 Qns, BillMcC, Jun 18 09
Average
BillMcC
232 plays
trivia question Quick Question
What two corps were crowned DCI co-champions in 2000 playing "Niagara Falls" and "Tapestry of Nations"?

From Quiz "DCI Championships 1981-2005"




11.
  Silk Squads and Marching Bands    
Multiple Choice
 20 Qns
I'm afraid you won't have much luck with this quiz if you were not a band geek like me. Actually, I was a silk and am looking forward to instructing. If you were in Band (competitive especially), you'll be fine...sorry, it isn't for everyone.
Average, 20 Qns, TemptressToo, Apr 06 20
Average
TemptressToo
Apr 06 20
1291 plays
12.
  10 Favorite Concert Band Works    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
No particular order; no particular ranking; just 10 compositions that are popular judging by frequency of programming and recording. How many of these are familiar to you?
Difficult, 10 Qns, marchlover, Jul 19 19
Difficult
marchlover
Jul 19 19
285 plays
13.
  Drum Corps Associates 2000-2010    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This is a quiz on who has won in either Open Class or Class A. Let's see if you know either the corps or where they are from or the name of their show. Good Luck!
Tough, 10 Qns, FusionBeatz, Jul 04 12
Tough
FusionBeatz
107 plays

Marching Band and Drum Corps Trivia Questions
1. In the 1957 film classic, "The Bridge On The River Kwai", the most memorable theme is 'The Col. Bogey March.' Why is this? There is no Colonel Bogey character in the movie.

From Quiz March Madness...No, Not Basketball!

Answer: It was a popular march in England, usually associated with golfing

The Great Yarmouth Golf Club began using the term 'Bogey' around 1890 and a music hall song, 'Here Comes The Bogey Man' was popular at the beginning of the 20th century. Kenneth Alford (pseudonym of F.J. Ricketts) wrote the "Col. Bogey March" in 1914. He stated that he was inspired by a golfer -- a colonel -- who whistled the first two notes (B flat and G) instead of yelling "Fore!" Today, a 'bogey' refers to a one over par score.

2. What corps was the Open Class (more than 65 members on field) winner in 2000?

From Quiz Drum Corps Associates 2000-2010

Answer: Syracuse Brigadiers

The name of the show was "City Rhythms". The Syracuse Brigadiers were among the first member corps of Drum Corps Associates. The corps was inactive from 1973 through 1992.

3. Any Fourth of July celebration just would not be the same without this one.

From Quiz Sousa Favorites

Answer: The Stars And Stripes Forever

Written on Christmas Day 1896. Without doubt the most popular march ever written. Volumes could be written about this march alone. The others which still enjoy great popularity even to this day were not even written by Sousa. "National Emblem" was composed by E.E. Bagley (1857-1922); "Chimes of Liberty" by Edwin Franko Goldman (1878-1956), and "American Patrol" by W.F. Meacham (1820-1869).

4. Gustav Holst is famous for his orchestral suite "The Planets" however he wrote for military bands as well. Imaginatively entitled First Suite for Military Band in (?) and Second Suite for Military Band in (?) what keys are these pieces written in?

From Quiz British Military Band Music

Answer: E flat and F

Holst was a lifelong friend of another famous English composer, Ralph Vaughn Williams. They both shared a love of English Folk Songs which they incorporated into their music. Holst was a vegetarian at a time when it was almost unheard of, at the end of the 19th century

5. What type of flute is the fife?

From Quiz Fife and Drum Corps

Answer: open-holed transverse flute

The fife is a open-holed transverse flute that originated somewhere near Prussia. It can play in three registers with a user who blows a lot of air, but it only has six holes, making playing chromatics hard because of half coverings!

6. Who won the DCI World Championships in 2006?

From Quiz Drum Corps International

Answer: The Cavaliers

The Cavaliers won their seventh DCI World Championship in 2006. This set a new record for winning the most championship titles in one decade, a record previously held by the Garfield Cadets and the Blue Devils.

7. What exactly is a set book?

From Quiz Marching Band

Answer: A book with coordinates telling you where you need to be on the field

Every member of the band needs to have a set book and most marching bands are very strict about having these on your person at all times.

8. Who won the DCI Championship in 2005 playing "Twisted Nerve"?

From Quiz DCI Championships 1981-2005

Answer: The Cadets

"Twisted Nerve" was originally composed by Bernard Herrmann for the 1968 movie of the same name. The whistling theme was recently popularized by the movie "Kill Bill, Vol. 1." The Cadets used this selection as a "prologue".

9. The Vanguard hails from what California city?

From Quiz Drum and Bugle Corps' home towns.

Answer: Santa Clara, CA

The Santa Clara Vanguard are one of the elite Drum Corps and have won multiple DCI Championships.

10. What is the basic marching step used by most marching bands called?

From Quiz Silk Squads and Marching Bands

Answer: roll step

A beautiful thing when synchronized...good calf workout as well.

11. Sticking with Mr. Alford for a moment, in 1930 he wrote a march for "the Jollies." Who or what, pray tell, are "the Jollies?" .

From Quiz March Madness...No, Not Basketball!

Answer: A nickname of Britain's Royal Marines

In 1930, Lt. Alford accepted the position as leader of the Band of the Plymouth Division, Royal Marines, the principal band of the Royal Marines. Taking inspiration from Rudyard Kipling's 1896 poem, "Soldier an' Sailor Too" ["Sez 'e, "I'm a Jolly -- 'Er Majesty's Jolly -- soldier an' sailor too!"] Alford wrote a march called "H.M. Jollies" and the term became a nickname for the Royal Marines.

12. Where were the 2008 Class A (less than 65 members on the field) Champions from?

From Quiz Drum Corps Associates 2000-2010

Answer: Atlanta, GA

The corps is called Alliance and the show was named "The Hand of Fate". They beat out the drum corps from Morris County, NJ (Fusion Core).

13. An old Shaker hymn is the basis of this work by John Zdechlik (b. 1937). What did he call this piece?

From Quiz 10 Favorite Concert Band Works

Answer: Chorale and Shaker Dance

"Chorale and Shaker Dance" was indeed based on the old Shaker tune called "Simple Gifts" and utilized in the form of a chorale and then a dance--hence the name. It was premiered in 1972 ("Variations on a Shaker Melody" was by Aaron Copleland from his ballet "Appalachian Spring". "Shaker Variants" was a title I made up, but somebody else could have used it by now)

14. This was written in 1889 and dedicated to a newspaper that sponsored an essay contest for school children.

From Quiz Sousa Favorites

Answer: Washington Post

It is also worth noting that it was well suited to the two-step which was becoming popular at that time. The others were written by Sousa as well, but were soon nearly forgotten.

15. As with many 13 year old boys during that time, Sousa had ambitions to run away and join a circus -- only in his case, to join a circus band. What did his father do to prevent this?

From Quiz John Philip Sousa, the March King

Answer: Enlisted him in the United States Marine Corp Band

He served nearly three years as a musician. His talent for music and composition became known during this time which led to his being offered the leadership position beginning in October 1880

16. American composer John Philip Sousa is known as the march king. Which of his marches was famously used as the theme for Monty Pythons Flying Circus?

From Quiz British Military Band Music

Answer: The Liberty Bell

Sousa was a prolific composer of marches, writing 136 of them in his lifetime. Not only was he a composer but he also wrote 3 novels and an autobiography.

17. What are the four keys that fifes are made in? (English system keys will come first with the German system keys in parentheses. There are really only two keys.)

From Quiz Fife and Drum Corps

Answer: B flat (A flat) and D (C)

The key that a fife is most often played in at reenactments is the B flat. For this reason, and the fact that is played in almost every European military as well as the American military, it has earned the name "B flat military fife." The military fife plays primarily in the second and third registers. The D fife, due to shrillness with the third register, was played only for entertainment if at all in a military situation.

18. What was the name of the 1992 Crossmen show?

From Quiz Drum Corps International

Answer: Songs for Planet Earth

"Songs for Planet Earth" was the Crossmen show in 1992. It landed the corps a spot in the Top six at the DCI finals that year with a score of 92.2.

19. Who won the DCI Championship in 2004 playing "Paris and Bond"?

From Quiz DCI Championships 1981-2005

Answer: Cavaliers

The Cavaliers were not the first corps to do a James Bond themed show. The Velvet Knights did theirs in 1986 - wearing white dinner jackets (but keeping their trademark red hi-top Keds!) and playing classic Bond music from the Sean Connery and Roger Moore days, while the Cavies featured more recent Bond flicks, including this selection from "Tomorrow Never Dies" composed by David Arnold.

20. The Blue Knights' hometown is in what Rocky Mountain city?

From Quiz Drum and Bugle Corps' home towns.

Answer: Denver, CO

Denver will play host to the 2004 Summer Music Games.

21. In marching band, what is the section of percussion that does NOT march commonly known as?

From Quiz Silk Squads and Marching Bands

Answer: pit & pit percussion & the pit

I was sometimes envious of those people as I sweated it out on many a hot day at band camp...

22. What corps is credited for winning six straight championships?

From Quiz Drum Corps Associates 2000-2010

Answer: Reading Buccaneers

The Reading Buccaneers won between 2005-2010. They went on an incredible run of never losing a competition between those years. They were defeated at the 2011 world championships by Minnesota Brass Inc.

23. Following on the popularity of band suites based on British folk songs, this British composer penned his "An Original Suite" made up, as the title implies, by all original melodies. Can you name the composer who came up with this "original" idea?

From Quiz 10 Favorite Concert Band Works

Answer: Gordon Jacob

Holst wrote the two Suites for Military Band (Eb and F); Vaughn Williams did "English Folk Song Suite" and Grainger scored many folk songs for winds. Gordon Jacob (1895-1984) was born in London and educated at the Royal Acadamy of Music. He wrote "An Original Suite" in 1928 and it was his first published band work. Other band works of his include "The William Byrd Suite" and "Flag of Stars".

24. This was written in 1893 for a then popular New York summer resort.

From Quiz Sousa Favorites

Answer: Manhattan Beach

In the trio section, clarinet arpeggios suggest ocean waves on the beach then the final strain crescendos and decrescendos to suggest a band playing while the stroller walks along the beach.

25. One night during his tenure as leader of the USMC Band he heard some of his comrades singing the famous "Marines Hymn". This brought him to tears and inspired him to compose which famous march?

From Quiz John Philip Sousa, the March King

Answer: Semper Fidelis

Composed in 1888, the title is taken from the Marine Corps motto meaning "Always Faithful". It has subsequently become the Official March of the United States Marine Corps.

26. Another of Sousa's marches is named after the motto of the US Marine Corps; what is it called?

From Quiz British Military Band Music

Answer: Semper Fideles

As well as being the motto of the USMC, "Semper Fideles" is also their official march. The piece was originally written for an operetta which unfortunately remained unfinished.

27. How many each of fifes and drums were assigned to a regiment? (military, not fife and drum corps regiments)

From Quiz Fife and Drum Corps

Answer: Two each

Don't ask me why this was, my guess is that both of the two drummers and the two fifes could be heard throughout the whole regiment. If anyone knows the answer please send me a mail but do not send as a correction!

28. What color feathers do the age-outs in the Santa Clara Vanguard wear?

From Quiz Drum Corps International

Answer: green

All members of the SCV who are of age-out status wear green feathers in their "aussies," or hats, in addition to the red and white feathers all members wear. They receive this feather in the "Green Feather Ceremony." The pit and color guard members who are age-outs pin a piece of green feather to their uniforms, because they don't wear "aussies."

29. Who won the DCI Championship in 2003 playing "Take Five"?

From Quiz DCI Championships 1981-2005

Answer: Blue Devils

"The Phenomenon of Cool" featured music by Miles Davis, Dave Brubeck and Leonard Bernstein.

30. Which Ohio city do The Glassmen call home?

From Quiz Drum and Bugle Corps' home towns.

Answer: Toledo, OH

The home field of The Glassmen is the Glass Bowl at the University of Toledo.

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