Modern Music Trivia Quiz

A few questions about post-war music, which may as well be useful as references if you are not yet familiar with this subject. Have fun.

A multiple-choice quiz by op1n1. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
op1n1

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
79,503

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
15

Difficulty
Difficult

Avg Score
7 / 15

Plays
879

This quiz has 2 formats: you can play it as a or as shown below.
Scroll down to the bottom for the answer key.

1. Which of the following works was not composed by Luigi Nono? Hint

Prometo, Tragedia dell'ascolto

Mantra

Incontri

Varianti

NEXT>

2. These two outstanding composers from Hungary are good friends, and were colleagues at the Franz Liszt Conservatory, in Budapest. Who are they? Hint

Gyorgy Kurtag and Peter Eotvos

Gyorgy Kurtag and Gyorgy Ligeti

Peter Eotvos and Peter Szendy

Peter Szendy and Gyorgy Ligeti

NEXT>

3. What term applies better to the composer Bryan Ferneyhough, author of 'Bone Alphabet', 'On Stellar Magnitudes', and 'Unity Capsule'? Hint

New Tonalism

Post Modernism

New Complexity

Total Serialism

NEXT>

4. Which one of these composers was born in Switzerland? Hint

Luca Francesconi

Wolfgang Rihm

Philippe Hurel

Beat Furrer

NEXT>

5. Where do the famous New Music Summer Courses take place? Hint

Toronto, Canada

oPorto, Portugal

Darmstadt, Germany

Valencia, Spain

NEXT>

6. What composer is the author of 'Kontrakadenz'. 'Zwei Gefuhle...Musik mit Leonardo', and 'Ein Kinderspiel'? Hint

Wolfgang Rihm

Helmut Lachenmann

Karlheinz Stockhausen

Alfred Schnittke

NEXT>

7. Where was the composer Emmanuel Nunes born? Hint

Paris, Texas

Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

Madrid, Spain

Lisbon, Portugal

NEXT>

8. Which work by Olivier Messiaen is said to have paved the way to 'Total Serialism' music? Hint

Turangalila Symphonie

Quatuor pour la fin du Temps

Mode de Valeurs et Intensites

Chronochromie

NEXT>

9. This composer is known for his almost provocative posture, as well as for his aleatory music creating process. He wrote 'Music of Changes' and '4'33'' Hint

John Cage

Phillip Glass

Christopher Rouse

Roger Sessions

NEXT>

10. IRCAM means 'Institut de Recherche et de Coordination Acoustique-Musique' (Institut of Research for Coordination Acoustics and Music). True or False?

True

False

NEXT>

11. Former Mayor of Venice, he is the author of the libretto for 'Prometeo, Tragedia dell'ascolto', by Luigi Nono. Who is this Italian philosopher? Hint

Silvio Berlusconi

Umberto Eco

Nanni Moretti

Massimo Cacciari

NEXT>

12. 'Penser la Musique au jour d'hui' (Music Today) is a book written by what French composer? Hint

Jean Barraque

Gerard Grisey

Pierre Boulez

Olivier Messiaen

NEXT>

13. Which of these composers is known for writing Spectral music? Hint

Salvatore Sciarrino

Luis de Pablo

Karlheinz Stockhausen

Tristan Murail

NEXT>

14. Who wrote several works, all called 'Sequenza' (sequences), for different solo instruments? Hint

Luciano Berio

Luis de Pablo

Michael Finissy

Toru Takemitsu

NEXT>

15. Which one of these composers was NOT born in the United States of America? Hint

Morton Feldman

Lennox Berkeley

John Cage

Christoper Rouse

(Optional) Create a Free FunTrivia ID to save the points you are about to earn:

Select a User ID:

Choose a Password:

Your Email:

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Which of the following works was not composed by Luigi Nono?

Answer: Mantra

Mantra (1970), for two pianists, is a Karlheinz Stockhausen composition. Prometeo, Tragedia dell'ascolto (1981-85) is Nono's masterpiece. Varianti (1957) is a work for solo violin, strings and woodwind, and Incontri (1955) is to be played by a miscellaneous of 24 instrumentalists.

2. These two outstanding composers from Hungary are good friends, and were colleagues at the Franz Liszt Conservatory, in Budapest. Who are they?

Answer: Gyorgy Kurtag and Gyorgy Ligeti

Ligeti and Kurtag went to Budapest to study with Bela Bartok. Bartok died on the very day they were addmited.

3. What term applies better to the composer Bryan Ferneyhough, author of 'Bone Alphabet', 'On Stellar Magnitudes', and 'Unity Capsule'?

Answer: New Complexity

His music is indeed highly complex, and trust me, using his scores to practice your sight-reading will only cause sever damage to your ego.

4. Which one of these composers was born in Switzerland?

Answer: Beat Furrer

Beat Furrer was born in Schaffhausen, Switzerland in 1954. Luca Francesconi was born in {Milan,Italy;} Philippe Hurel was born in Domfront, {France;} and Wolfgang Rihm was born in Karslruhe, Germany.

5. Where do the famous New Music Summer Courses take place?

Answer: Darmstadt, Germany

The Darmstadt Ferienkurse is a summer school for composers and interpreters. It was created in 1946, and it was intended to stimulate the creation of new music.

6. What composer is the author of 'Kontrakadenz'. 'Zwei Gefuhle...Musik mit Leonardo', and 'Ein Kinderspiel'?

Answer: Helmut Lachenmann

Helmut Lachenmann was born in Stuttgart in 1935. He is the creator of 'Musique concrete instrumentale', and stands as one of the most original composers of all time.

7. Where was the composer Emmanuel Nunes born?

Answer: Lisbon, Portugal

Emmanuel Nunes is probably the most well-known portuguese composer. His most interesting works are, perhaps, 'Quodlibet' and 'Machina Mundi'. He lives and teaches in Paris.

8. Which work by Olivier Messiaen is said to have paved the way to 'Total Serialism' music?

Answer: Mode de Valeurs et Intensites

'Mode de Valeurs et Intensites' is part of 'Quatre Etudes du Rythme'. Total Serialism is a music in which every sound, or sound-structure is pre-determined, and is characterized by a total differentiation of sounds. Messiaen created and rejected this technique.

9. This composer is known for his almost provocative posture, as well as for his aleatory music creating process. He wrote 'Music of Changes' and '4'33''

Answer: John Cage

Cage was one of the most radical composers. 4'33', for instance, is a piano piece consisting of precisely 4 minutes and 33 seconds... of silence.

10. IRCAM means 'Institut de Recherche et de Coordination Acoustique-Musique' (Institut of Research for Coordination Acoustics and Music). True or False?

Answer: True

Ircam is situated in Paris and stimulates Electronic Music, as well as the development of technologie for New Music.

11. Former Mayor of Venice, he is the author of the libretto for 'Prometeo, Tragedia dell'ascolto', by Luigi Nono. Who is this Italian philosopher?

Answer: Massimo Cacciari

Massimo Cacciari is an important italian Philosopher and he was friends with Luigi Nono. Berlusconi is currently (June 2002) the italian Prime Minister. Nanni Moretti is a film director (he married Nono's daughter, Sylvia). Umberto Eco is an author and a semiologist.

12. 'Penser la Musique au jour d'hui' (Music Today) is a book written by what French composer?

Answer: Pierre Boulez

This book had an enormous influence on Music creation of almost all composers in the 60's and 70's. It takes Total Serialism a step forward.

13. Which of these composers is known for writing Spectral music?

Answer: Tristan Murail

Spectral music is based on the analysis of sound phenomena, like frequency spectre. Murail is one of the creators of the concept. Gerard Grisey is another important 'Spectral' composer.

14. Who wrote several works, all called 'Sequenza' (sequences), for different solo instruments?

Answer: Luciano Berio

Berio wrote them, and the others didn't. It is as simple as that. :-)

15. Which one of these composers was NOT born in the United States of America?

Answer: Lennox Berkeley

Sir Lennox Berkeley was born on May 12th 1903, in Boar's Hill, Oxford, and died December 26 1989, in London.

Source: Author op1n1

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bullymom before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.