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Strings and Things Trivia Quiz

Anything connected to the violin and other orchestral string instruments.

A multiple-choice quiz by Sparksister. Estimated time: 3 mins.

Author
Sparksister

Time
3 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
247,882

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
630

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. How many strings do the following instruments usually have: violin, viola, cello, bass? Hint

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Question 2 of 10

2. Who is most famously known for building string instruments (especially violins)? Hint

Niccol� Amati

Antonio Stradivari

Niccol� Paganini

Arturo Toscanini

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Question 3 of 10

3. What is the typical setup of a string quartet? Hint

violin - viola - cello - bass

violin - viola - viola - cello

violin - violin - cello - bass

violin - violin - viola - cello

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Question 4 of 10

4. Who is NOT a famous 20th century violinist? Hint

Yehudi Menuhin

David Oistrakh

Gidon Kremer

Daniel Barenboim

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Question 5 of 10

5. What do you have to do when you encounter the indication "pizz" on a score? Hint

beat the strings with the wood of the bow

play louder

play softer

pluck the strings

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Question 6 of 10

6. How can you play "pizzicato" on a violin? Hint

left hand (most often) and right hand

right hand (most often) and left hand

left hand only

right hand only

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Question 7 of 10

7. What is a well-known nickname for the famous violinist Niccol� Paganini (1782-1840)? Hint

Devil's violinist

Angels' violinist

God's violinist

Monster's violinist

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Question 8 of 10

8. Which instrument's strings are tuned in fourths rather than in fifths? Hint

cello

violin

bass

viola

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Question 9 of 10

9. How many string quartets did Joseph Haydn write? Hint

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Question 10 of 10

10. Every four years, the Queen Elizabeth Music Competition is devoted to the violin. This is one of the most prestigious competitions in the world. Where is it held? Hint

Belgium

The Netherlands

United Kingdom

Sweden

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Mar 27 2024 : Guest 81: 5/10
Mar 04 2024 : Guest 174: 3/10

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. How many strings do the following instruments usually have: violin, viola, cello, bass?

Answer: 4

All of these have four strings but only the ones of viola and cello are tuned to the same pitches. The others are tuned higher (violin) or lower (bass).

2. Who is most famously known for building string instruments (especially violins)?

Answer: Antonio Stradivari

There are still about 540 playable "Strads" left.
Niccol� Amati (1596-1684) was Antonio Stradivari's (1644-1737) teacher.
Niccol� Paganini (1782-1840) was a violinist and composer.
Arturo Toscanini (1867-1957) was a conductor.

3. What is the typical setup of a string quartet?

Answer: violin - violin - viola - cello

The usual form is a first violin, second violin, viola and cello. If composers want something else, it should be indicated.

4. Who is NOT a famous 20th century violinist?

Answer: Daniel Barenboim

Barenboim (1942-) is an Argentinian-Israeli pianist and conductor.
Menuhin (1916-1999)was an American violinist and conductor, celebrated also for his teaching methods.
Kremer (1947-) is a Latvian violinist and conductor, mostly recorded by Deutsche Grammophon.
Oistrakh (1908-1974) is a Jewish Soviet violinist who won the 1937 Queen Elizabeth competition. He's the father of violinist Igor Oistrakh (1931-).

5. What do you have to do when you encounter the indication "pizz" on a score?

Answer: pluck the strings

It is an abbreviation of the Italian term "pizzicato".
Using the wood of the bow to "beat" the strings is called "coll'legno".

6. How can you play "pizzicato" on a violin?

Answer: right hand (most often) and left hand

Most pizzicatos are played by one of the right hand's fingers while holding the bow simultaneously. The bow can be put down in a long pizzicato passage. This is indicated by the abbreviation "pizz". However, left hand pizzicato is also possible. This is usually indicated by a cross above the note.

7. What is a well-known nickname for the famous violinist Niccol� Paganini (1782-1840)?

Answer: Devil's violinist

This springs from a legend, cultivated by Paganini himself, that he had sold his soul to the devil in exchange for a fearsomely perfect technique. His "caprices" and concertos are generally regarded as the most difficult in the violin repertoire.

8. Which instrument's strings are tuned in fourths rather than in fifths?

Answer: bass

Because this instrument is so large, tuning in fifths would result in too big of a distance for the fingers. You would not be able to grasp all the required notes within one finger position. So in order to be able to play a scale, without having to change positions, a bass is tuned in fourths.

9. How many string quartets did Joseph Haydn write?

Answer: 68

The official numbering lists 68. More were attributed to him but some of them have been labelled "spurious" after more research.

10. Every four years, the Queen Elizabeth Music Competition is devoted to the violin. This is one of the most prestigious competitions in the world. Where is it held?

Answer: Belgium

The other categories, aside from violin, are piano, singing and composition. The first prize is 20,000 euro, a CD recording and several concerts.

Source: Author Sparksister

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor ertrum before going online.
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