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Quiz about The Orchestra
Quiz about The Orchestra

The Orchestra Trivia Quiz


We have all seen large-scale orchestras performing magnificent pieces of music, both old and new. How did the modern orchestra come into being and how is it made up? This quiz is designed to give some insight into its history.

A multiple-choice quiz by cliveh. Estimated time: 6 mins.
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Author
cliveh
Time
6 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
296,629
Updated
Feb 21 23
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Difficult
Avg Score
5 / 10
Plays
791
Last 3 plays: Guest 107 (5/10), Guest 202 (3/10), Guest 103 (4/10).
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Question 1 of 10
1. The instruments in a modern orchestra are divided up into sections - for instance the violins and cellos are part of the "string" section. How many sections are there in total? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. Occasionally a piano is added to the orchestra. In which section would it be placed? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. Which of the following is not a valid member of the percussion section? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. During the Baroque period (up to around the time of J.S. Bach), how would an orchestra normally be controlled? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. Over the centuries, not only has the orchestra grown in size, but also the number of different instruments used in an orchestra has increased. When was the trombone first used for a symphony? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. In 1946 a young British composer wrote a piece of music called "A Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra" which introduced the various instruments of the orchestra. Who was the composer? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. Which orchestra claims to be the world's oldest? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. From what language is the word "orchestra" derived, and what does it mean? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. Referring to the normal layout of a modern symphony orchestra: which group of players sits immediately in front of the conductor? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. On 15th May 2000 the world's largest orchestra (at that time) was assembled in B.C. Place, Vancouver. How many instrumentalists joined the Vancouver Symphony orchestra for the event? Hint





Most Recent Scores
Mar 28 2024 : Guest 107: 5/10
Mar 23 2024 : Guest 202: 3/10
Mar 22 2024 : Guest 103: 4/10
Mar 22 2024 : Guest 98: 9/10
Mar 20 2024 : Guest 90: 7/10
Mar 20 2024 : Guest 207: 1/10
Mar 20 2024 : Guest 185: 4/10
Mar 19 2024 : Guest 168: 5/10
Mar 18 2024 : Guest 76: 4/10

Score Distribution

quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. The instruments in a modern orchestra are divided up into sections - for instance the violins and cellos are part of the "string" section. How many sections are there in total?

Answer: Four

There are four sections - strings, woodwind, brass and percussion.
2. Occasionally a piano is added to the orchestra. In which section would it be placed?

Answer: Percussion

From the conductor's point of view, the piano is placed in the percussion section, unless it's being used as a solo instrument.
3. Which of the following is not a valid member of the percussion section?

Answer: Sand drum

The Tom Tom is a cylindrical drum with no snare, originating in Native American cultures. Crotales are small, brass disks usually struck with mallets. Apart from being hung outside doors to play in the breeze, wind chimes have been used by some modern composers in orchestral pieces (e.g. Messiaen). To the best of my knowledge, no-one has yet invented a sand drum!
4. During the Baroque period (up to around the time of J.S. Bach), how would an orchestra normally be controlled?

Answer: There was a keyboard player who would also beat time

Orchestras were small compared to modern orchestras. It was normal for a keyboard (like a harpsichord) to be used to provide a base on which the rest of the music was constructed - this was called the "continuo". If a keyboard instrument was not required, the lead violinist would direct. On some occasions - but quite rarely - a conductor would stand at the front to beat time.

As the symphony evolved in the second part of the eighteenth century, it would become more common for a conductor to be used to keep time.
5. Over the centuries, not only has the orchestra grown in size, but also the number of different instruments used in an orchestra has increased. When was the trombone first used for a symphony?

Answer: Beethoven's Fifth Symphony (1808)

The modern trombone is a descendant of the medieval sackbut. Mozart used it to great effect in his operas "Don Giovanni" and "The Magic Flute", but it was Beethoven, a generation or so later, who first used it in a symphony.
In fact, Beethoven's 5th and 6th symphonies were both premiered at the same concert, with the 6th being played in the first half and the 5th in the second half. Technically speaking, therefore, Beethoven's 6th symphony was the first to use a trombone!
6. In 1946 a young British composer wrote a piece of music called "A Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra" which introduced the various instruments of the orchestra. Who was the composer?

Answer: Benjamin Britten

Britten wrote the music for a documentary to be shown on BBC television. It was subtitled: "Variations and Fugue on a Theme of Purcell" as it was based on a piece of music from Purcell's "Abdelazar" suite.
7. Which orchestra claims to be the world's oldest?

Answer: The Royal Danish Orchestra

The Royal Danish Orchestra has its roots in the Royal Chapel or "Det Kongelige Kapel" Orchestra, founded by King Christian I in 1448. of course, it has changed tremendously in the intervening centuries, but it can claim to have survived continuously since that date.

The Halle Orchestra is the oldest orchestra in Britain, a mere 150 (or so) years old, and the other two more recent than that.
8. From what language is the word "orchestra" derived, and what does it mean?

Answer: Greek: "dancing place"

The word has its roots in Greek theatre, being the area in front of the stage where the chorus sang and danced. The term was revived in seventeenth century France and used for the area in front of the stage where the instrumentalists sat. The term was later applied to the players themselves.
9. Referring to the normal layout of a modern symphony orchestra: which group of players sits immediately in front of the conductor?

Answer: Violas

The string section is at the front of the orchestra - on the left are the violins, in the centre the violas and on the right are the cellos and double basses. Behind the strings is the woodwind section - flutes, oboes, clarinets and bassoons; behind them come the brass instruments - horns, trumpets, trombones and tuba; at the very back, on the left, are the percussion instruments.
10. On 15th May 2000 the world's largest orchestra (at that time) was assembled in B.C. Place, Vancouver. How many instrumentalists joined the Vancouver Symphony orchestra for the event?

Answer: 6,400

On 15th May 2000, the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and 6,400 students from schools and colleges in the province combined at B.C. Place in Vancouver. Together they played 9 minutes and 44 seconds of an arrangement of part of Beethoven's 9th symphony. Beat that!
Source: Author cliveh

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