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Quiz about Classical MusicSymphonic Nicknames

Classical Music--Symphonic Nicknames Quiz

Many pieces of symphonic music have been given 'nicknames' either by the composer or by others, e.g. Shubert's Symphony No. 8 is called 'The Unfinished'. Match the symphony with the composer.

A multiple-choice quiz by Pat6789. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
Pat6789

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
824

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
15

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
10 / 15

Plays
3747

Awards
Top 35% Quiz

Last 3 plays: Guest 177 (15/15), Guest 200 (13/15), Guest 199 (12/15).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 15

1. Symphony No.9, C-Major, 'The Great' Hint

Felix Mendelssohn

Ludwig Van Beethoven

W.A. Mozart

Franz Schubert

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Question 2 of 15

2. Symphony No.9, E-Minor, Op. 95 'New World' Hint

Peter Tchaikovsky

Antonin Dvorak

Edward Elgar

Charles Ives

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Question 3 of 15

3. Symphony No.6, F-Major, 'The Pastoral' Hint

Johannes Brahms

Anton Bruckner

Johann Sebastian Bach

Ludwig Van Beethoven

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Question 4 of 15

4. Symphony No. 3, C-Minor, 'Organ' Hint

Anton Bruckner

Camille Saint-Saens

Gustav Mahler

Georges Bizet

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Question 5 of 15

5. Symphony No. 5, D-Minor, 'Reformation' Hint

Franz Schubert

Felix Mendelssohn

Robert Schumann

Ralph Vaughn Williams

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Question 6 of 15

6. Symphony No. 41, C-Major, 'Jupiter' Hint

Johann Sebastian Bach

Carl Maria Von Weber

Franz Joseph Haydn

W. A. Mozart

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Question 7 of 15

7. Symphony No. 1, 'Classical' Hint

Serge Prokofiev

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakoff

Jan Sibelius

Hector Berlioz

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Question 8 of 15

8. Symphony No. 4, E-Flat, 'Romantic' Hint

Richard Strauss

Johannes Brahms

Anton Bruckner

Maurice Ravel

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Question 9 of 15

9. Symphony No. 1, B-Flat, 'Spring' Hint

Johannes Brahms

Franz Schubert

Robert Schumann

Franz Liszt

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Question 10 of 15

10. Symphony No. 94 in G, 'Surprise' Hint

Franz Joseph Haydn

C.P.E. Bach

Antonio Salieri

Geroge Frideric Handel

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Question 11 of 15

11. Symphony No. 2, C-Minor, 'Resurrection' Hint

Anton Bruckner

Karl Maria Von Weber

Richard Wagner

Gustav Mahler

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Question 12 of 15

12. Symphony No. 6, B-Minor, 'Pathetique' Hint

Ludwig Van Beethoven

Dimitri Shostakovitch

Peter Ilyitch Tchaikovsky

Jan Sibelius

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Question 13 of 15

13. Symphony No. 2, 'London' Hint

Ralph Vaughan Williams

Felix Mendelssohn

Edward Elgar

George Friderich Handel

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Question 14 of 15

14. Symphony No. 1, D-Major, 'Titan' Hint

Richard Wagner

Anton Bruckner

Gustav Mahler

Johannes Brahms

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Question 15 of 15

15. Symphony No. 3, E-Flat, 'Eroica' Hint

W.A. Mozart

Ludwig Van Beethoven

Franz Joseph Haydn

Carl Maria Von Weber

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Most Recent Scores

Apr 25 2024 : Guest 177: 15/15
Apr 25 2024 : Guest 200: 13/15
Apr 01 2024 : Guest 199: 12/15

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Symphony No.9, C-Major, 'The Great'

Answer: Franz Schubert

Interestingly, this was also called Symphony No. 7 in an earlier numbering system. But there is no mistaking the 'Great' C-Major because of its majesty and length.

2. Symphony No.9, E-Minor, Op. 95 'New World'

Answer: Antonin Dvorak

Dvorak toured America in the 1890's and also produced String Quartet in F-Major called 'The American'.

3. Symphony No.6, F-Major, 'The Pastoral'

Answer: Ludwig Van Beethoven

Beethoven himself named this 'The Pastoral' and each movement is given an explanatory title, e.g. (1) Awakening of Cheerful Impressions on Arrival in the Country.

4. Symphony No. 3, C-Minor, 'Organ'

Answer: Camille Saint-Saens

One listening will tell you why this is called 'The Organ' symphony. And there have never been any apologies from Babe for pirating the melody from the final movement. Oh Well!!

5. Symphony No. 5, D-Minor, 'Reformation'

Answer: Felix Mendelssohn

After composing Symphony No. 3, 'The Scottish', and Symphony No. 4,'The Italian', I suppose Felix thought a change of pace was in order. Actually No. 5 (1832) was written before No. 4 (1833)--go figure !!

6. Symphony No. 41, C-Major, 'Jupiter'

Answer: W. A. Mozart

I could have said Symphony No. 41 (K.551)--but that would have given it away for sure. It was Mozart's last symphony and has a 'Grand Slam' final movement.

7. Symphony No. 1, 'Classical'

Answer: Serge Prokofiev

A 20th century composer, Prokofiev in his 1st Symphony attempted to (in his own words) '..catch the spirit of Mozart and put down that which, if he were living now, Mozart might put into his scores.'

8. Symphony No. 4, E-Flat, 'Romantic'

Answer: Anton Bruckner

Bruckner re-wrote this one three times and finally got it right in 1896. He named this one 'Romantic' at the urging of his friends and apparently for no other reason.

9. Symphony No. 1, B-Flat, 'Spring'

Answer: Robert Schumann

Schuman wrote, '...The sketch of the entire Symphony was completed in four days. Exhaustion followed after many sleepless nights.' (And then he went on to write three more symphonies and a bunch of other stuff--WOW!!)

10. Symphony No. 94 in G, 'Surprise'

Answer: Franz Joseph Haydn

No. 94 is a dead give away. Haydn has 104 symphonies attributed to him and a lot of them have been given names, e.g. 'Farewell', 'Miracle', 'Military', 'Clock'. To say that Haydn was prolific would be an understatement !!

11. Symphony No. 2, C-Minor, 'Resurrection'

Answer: Gustav Mahler

Mahler himself called this symphony 'Resurrection'. He ascribes deep, mystical meaning to this work. Albert Einstein (yes, that Albert Einstein) wrote of Mahler, 'His music, torn between ecstasy and despair, faithfully reflects the inner dissonance of the times...' Heavy going but, then, it is all relative....

12. Symphony No. 6, B-Minor, 'Pathetique'

Answer: Peter Ilyitch Tchaikovsky

A very moody piece, indeed. Atypically, it ends on a 'downer' of a slow, lugubrious movement. Suggested antidote: the final movement of Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 4 or a John Phillip Sousa march--same difference !!

13. Symphony No. 2, 'London'

Answer: Ralph Vaughan Williams

Ralph Vaughan Williams, an Englishman, composed a symphony titled 'London'! How radical is that ?!! However, don't confuse this with Haydn's 'London Symphony' No. 104 in D. Also, Haydn composed two sets of six works later in his life after visits to London. These are called 'The London Symphonies'.

14. Symphony No. 1, D-Major, 'Titan'

Answer: Gustav Mahler

More Mahler !! (See Question and Answer No. 11--Mahler hasn't changed since you answered that one !!)

15. Symphony No. 3, E-Flat, 'Eroica'

Answer: Ludwig Van Beethoven

This one had to be a 'slam dunk'. Legend has it that, when he heard that Napoleon accepted a crown, Beethoven in anger ripped up the orginal title page which he dedicated to Napoleon. Beethoven then re-wrote the dedication 'To the Memory of a Great Man'. (And--No, Marcia Funebre is not the name of Beethoven's girlfriend. It is the title of the 2nd Movement !!)

Source: Author Pat6789

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