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Classical Music Brainbuster Trivia Quiz

Being a composer, I like to think I know a bit about music. Do you?

A multiple-choice quiz by Mr.Music. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
Mr.Music

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
39,292

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
15

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
9 / 15

Plays
3030

Awards
Top 35% Quiz

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 15

1. Which of the following composers lost the ability to play piano after trying to make his hand bigger? Hint

Rachmaninoff

Schumann

Liszt

Chopin

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Question 2 of 15

2. Which composer died after stabbing himself in the foot, which soon became infected, with his staff whilst conducting in France? Hint

Debussy

Lully

Daquin

Berlioz

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Question 3 of 15

3. After listening to the entire recording of Rubinstein playing Grieg's piano concerto, Rachmaninoff's reply was simply: Hint

What's for dessert?

I've heard better

Piano out of tune

I could do better

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Question 4 of 15

4. Which of these has been suggested as a cause of Beethoven's death? Hint

Diarrhea

Lead poisoning

Injury from a fall

Cardiac arrest

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Question 5 of 15

5. Mahler's 8th symphony is known as the Symphony of ?

Answer: (Two Words, or a Number)

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Question 6 of 15

6. Who was Wagner's Father-in-law? Hint

Grieg

Chopin

Tchiakovsky

Liszt

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Question 7 of 15

7. Who was considered to be possessed by a devil because of his ugliness? Hint

J.C. Bach

Paganini

Sibelius

Sir Arthur Sullivan

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Question 8 of 15

8. In which location, and of what circumstances, did Robert Schumann eventually die? Hint

Bottom of a river, drowning

Insane Asylum, Starvation

In his home, bled to death

In bed, murdered

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Question 9 of 15

9. Who wrote the waltz, 'Bethena'? Hint

J. Strauss

Kreisler

McDowell

Scott Joplin

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Question 10 of 15

10. Who was buried in a communal grave, never to be found again? Hint

Leopold Mozart

Haydn

Handel

W.A. Mozart

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Question 11 of 15

11. Which one of the following is a real opera? Hint

'The Death Of Rolstoy'

'A Potato For you'

'The Love for Three Oranges'

'My Heart Is A Cabbage'

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Question 12 of 15

12. Which of the following was a real ancient instrument? Hint

Pastent

Insect

Serpent

Sabre

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Question 13 of 15

13. 87 per cent of those who were asked considered which piano concerto to be the greatest of all time? Hint

Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2

Tchiakovsky Piano Concerto No.1

Grieg Piano Concerto

Mozart Piano Concerto No.21

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Question 14 of 15

14. Schopenhauer wrote that music, above all other arts, would get you 'Closer to ... ' ,whom?

Answer: (One Word)

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Question 15 of 15

15. Who had unusually small hands? Hint

Chopin

Daquin

Schubert

Mendelsohn

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Most Recent Scores

Mar 10 2024 : dgermenis: 4/15
Mar 08 2024 : Guest 93: 5/15

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Which of the following composers lost the ability to play piano after trying to make his hand bigger?

Answer: Schumann

This was done by placing his hand in a device which spread his fingers further and further apart. He ended up with irreparable damage to his ligaments.

2. Which composer died after stabbing himself in the foot, which soon became infected, with his staff whilst conducting in France?

Answer: Lully

Conducting in France at this time was done by banging a large wooden staff on the floor, even in concert recitals!

3. After listening to the entire recording of Rubinstein playing Grieg's piano concerto, Rachmaninoff's reply was simply:

Answer: Piano out of tune

This was when music recording was only just becoming a reality. Only the wealthy could afford the technology.

4. Which of these has been suggested as a cause of Beethoven's death?

Answer: Lead poisoning

At the time of his death, Beethoven was found to have a shrunken liver which could have been due to alcohol poisoning. Christian Reiter proposed in 2008 that Beethoven might have been poisoned by the lead in medical treatments administered by his doctor.

5. Mahler's 8th symphony is known as the Symphony of ?

Answer: A thousand

The score for this symphony requires a massive 10 Horns.

6. Who was Wagner's Father-in-law?

Answer: Liszt

7. Who was considered to be possessed by a devil because of his ugliness?

Answer: Paganini

It was actually caused by a gum disease, to which he lost all his teeth, and his face caved in.

8. In which location, and of what circumstances, did Robert Schumann eventually die?

Answer: Insane Asylum, Starvation

He volunteered himself to an asylum after a bout of severe depression, and a suicide attempt. It didn't get better, and he eventually starved himself to death in his padded cell. It has been said that Clara, his wife, never visited him, had an affair with Brahms, and wore black every day for the rest of her life. Now which one was nuts?

9. Who wrote the waltz, 'Bethena'?

Answer: Scott Joplin

10. Who was buried in a communal grave, never to be found again?

Answer: W.A. Mozart

A memorial can be found in Salzburg.

11. Which one of the following is a real opera?

Answer: 'The Love for Three Oranges'

12. Which of the following was a real ancient instrument?

Answer: Serpent

It was given this name because of its snake-like shape.

13. 87 per cent of those who were asked considered which piano concerto to be the greatest of all time?

Answer: Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2

14. Schopenhauer wrote that music, above all other arts, would get you 'Closer to ... ' ,whom?

Answer: God

15. Who had unusually small hands?

Answer: Chopin

Source: Author Mr.Music

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor gtho4 before going online.
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