Chapter 10 Quiz

Beethoven initially made his living in Vienna as a concert pianist, and in order to be acceptable to polite society he bought new clothes, found a wigmaker, and took dancing lessons a. True b. False

True

Which response does NOT describe Beethoven's relationship with the Viennese aristocracy? a. He served as court composer to Joseph II of Austria. b. Three aristocrats established a fund that allowed him to compose without financial worries. c. One aristocrat put a string quartet at his disposal, while another made it possible for him to experiment with a small orchestra. d. In spite of their largesse, Beethoven treated aristocrats with audacious independence and rudeness. e. They all showered him with gifts.

a. He served as court composer to Joseph II of Austria.

All of the following statements are true about Beethoven's legacy EXCEPT: a. His music is inherently theatrical and perfectly suited to the genre of opera. b. His compositions demonstrated how personal expression might expand the confines of Classical form. c. The composer was considered the prophet of Romantic music. d. He was revered by artists of all types, and subsequent composers measured their worth in comparison to him. e. He introduced the "grand gesture" and made music both grandiose and intensely lyrical

a. His music is inherently theatrical and perfectly suited to the genre of opera.

Which of the following statements is true about Beethoven's music?

b. Beethoven embraced the use of Classical forms and genres in his music, but the spirit of his music is one that foreshadows the musical style of the Romantic era.

Which statement about Beethoven's later years is WRONG? a. Because of his deafness he withdrew from society. b. He made two visits to London where he was treated as a celebrity and awarded an honorary degree from Oxford. c. He primarily composed string quartets and piano sonatas. d. He became a well-known eccentric in Vienna, often wandering the streets humming, mumbling, and sometimes composing. e. His music became more remote and inaccessible in style.

b. He made two visits to London where he was treated as a celebrity and awarded an honorary degree from Oxford.

All of these statements about the "Pathétique" Sonata are correct EXCEPT for: a. The slow introduction is suggestive of Beethoven's style of improvisation. b. The title "Pathétique" was intended to suggest French manners and moods. c. The composer performed the sonata frequently in the homes and palaces of Viennese aristocracy. d. It requires more technical skill than any previous piano sonata. e. Beethoven supplied the title himself.

b. The title "Pathétique" was intended to suggest French manners and moods.

The "heroic" period is when Beethoven

composed six of his nine symphonies.

Which statement about Beethoven's Heiligenstadt Testament is most correct? a. It is part last will and testament, part artistic manifesto. b. Its name derives from the village where Beethoven wrote the document. c. It was written in despair over his impending deafness. d. All of these choices e. In the document he admits that he considered suicide, but that his dedication to art (music) held him back from such a step.

d. All of these choices

Identify the response that does NOT apply to Beethoven's early biography. a. He was born in Bonn, Germany. b. He displayed great musical talent as a child. c. His father and grandfather were court musicians. d. He toured northern Europe for three years and heard his first two symphonies performed in London when he was only eight years old. e. Hoping to exploit his son as a child prodigy, his father forced Beethoven to practice at all hours.

d. He toured northern Europe for three years and heard his first two symphonies performed in London when he was only eight years old.

Which statement does NOT apply to Beethoven's style of playing the piano? a. He was known to have broken piano strings while performing. b. Many who heard him perform were moved to tears by his music. c. Those who heard him play remarked on his "superhuman" technique. d. His career as a virtuoso was cut short due to an injury to his right hand, but he thereafter focused his attention on writing sonatas for left-handed pianists. e. His performance style displayed phenomenal volume, violence, and force.

d. His career as a virtuoso was cut short due to an injury to his right hand, but he thereafter focused his attention on writing sonatas for left-handed pianists.

Identify the phrase that does NOT apply to the "Eroica" symphony. a. It was originally composed to honor Napoleon Bonaparte. b. The work was double the length of Haydn's symphonies. c. more than any single orchestral work, it changed the historical direction of the symphony. d. The Austrian emperor asked Beethoven to change the title from "Bonaparte" to "Eroica"; Beethoven complied, but demanded an extra fee. e. It is filled with shocking rhythmic effects and orchestral gestures

d. The Austrian emperor asked Beethoven to change the title from "Bonaparte" to "Eroica"; Beethoven complied, but demanded an extra fee.

Identify the INCORRECT statement about Ode to Joy. a. The text praises the concept of the universal brotherhood of humanity. b. Beethoven worked on the melody for the poem for nearly twenty years. c. When setting the text, Beethoven chose a simple, direct melody—one that anyone can sing. d. The melody provides a theme for a magnificent set of variations in his Ninth Symphony. e. It is based on a text written by Voltaire, the Enlightenment philosopher.

e. It is based on a text written by Voltaire, the Enlightenment philosopher.

Which statement does NOT apply to Beethoven's Symphony No. 5? a. The rhythm of the opening dominates the entire symphony. b. It is the first symphony to employ motivic unity between all four movements. c. Beethoven is said to have described its principal motive as Fate knocking at the door. d. The four movements convey a sense of psychological progression. e. It is the first symphony to use theme and variations form as one of its movements.

e. It is the first symphony to use theme and variations form as one of its movements.

What is the mode of this excerpt from the introduction to Beethoven's "Pathétique" Sonata?

minor

With Beethoven's ________ , the genre moved from one played by amateur performers in their homes to become standard repertoire for professional musicians.

piano sonatas