Music, Maestro! Trivia Quiz

Answer: Clara Schumann

Though it is true that Brahms was passionately devoted to Clara Schumann all his life, it is extremely doubtful that this passion was ever consummated. After Schumann's attempted suicide and confinement in a mental sanatorium for the rest of his relatively short life, Brahms, who never married, virtually became head of that troubled little household. He and Clara had a unique friendship that went far beyond that of an everyday relationship.

Answer: Mozart

Not uncommon for that period of time, scatological humour is the most extreme form of lavatorial humour. The magnificent Mozart even wrote at least one piece of music along that vein, the English translation of which would not be suitable for this site.

Answer: Soap

Beethoven, born 1770, initially studied under the renowned Joseph Haydn for several years, then went on to become a composer himself of stupendous works. He is one of the most influential composers of all time. His works spanned the period between the Classical and Romantic eras in classical music. Sadly, he began to lose his hearing in the 1790s, yet continued to compose, conduct, and perform, even after becoming completely deaf.

At the premiere of his Ninth Symphony, which he conducted, he had to be turned around to see the tumultuous applause of the audience, and hearing nothing, he began to weep - and that, my friends, is heartbreaking.

Answer: Schubert

Schubert's admiration of Beethoven's work was so profound, particularly Beethoven's Fourteenth Quartet op. 131 in C Sharp Minor, that when Schubert first heard it, he exclaimed, "After this, what is left for us to write?"

Answer: Schoolteacher

Poor Schubert detested teaching. His forte was music and he composed almost 1,000 works, including over 600 extraordinarily beautiful German art songs (Lieder), most of which were unknown until after his death - hence his perpetual poverty.

Answer: Handel

Handel was a German born composer from the Baroque era. He is famous for his operas and oratorios among other works. Though born in Germany, he spent most of his life in England, becoming a naturalised citizen of that country in 1727. His works include the famous "Messiah", the proceeds of which he insisted be donated to hospitals for the mentally ill. Handel died in 1759 at the age of 74.

Answer: Wagner

Wagner was a composer, conductor, theatre director and essayist, though primarily known for his operas. Unlike other composers, he also wrote both the music and libretto for every one of his works, and developed startling changes in musical form, which greatly influenced the development of classical music. Regarding his works, one either detests them or admires them immensely.

There's no half way point with Wagner. Personally I detest his music.

Answer: Clara

Clara Schumann was a brilliant pianist and considered a virtuoso of the age. Wieck's objection to the marriage was that it would stall the progress of that career, which sadly it did. Schumann, though he admired his wife's playing, wanted her to have children and make a happy home. This brilliant woman's life makes fascinating reading and is a quiz on its own.

Answer: Fanny Mendelssohn

Sister of the brilliant Felix Mendelssohn, even Fanny's father refused to support her career as a pianist. He wrote to her saying, "Music will become Felix's profession, while for you it can and must be only an ornament". Felix himself was far more supportive of Fanny however, and the two shared a close and loving relationship all their short lives.

Answer: Being buried alive

As a child, Chopin had seen many of his extremely talented family die young and this spectre of death haunted all his years. On his early death from tuberculosis, and to prevent his fear becoming reality, his heart was removed and preserved at his request.

It is now buried in the Holy Cross church in Warsaw, Poland, the country of his birth, while the rest of his remains are buried in Paris, something which seems rather bizarre. Another interesting physical fact about Chopin is that he had extremely large hands that could span well over an octave, so much so that it is said he never had to use his little fingers to reach all the notes when playing the piano.