Music Appreciation Pt. 2
What make Carl Orff a particularly interesting historical figure? He was the most successful composer to work under the Nazi regime. He was the most popular and influential German composer of the 20th century. His career fell apart after World War II when he was successfully prosecuted for war crimes. He was secretly an undercover agent for the Allied powers.
He was the most successful composer to work under the Nazi regime.
Brahms was one of the most significant symphony composers of the 19th century. How many symphonies did he write? 4 14 44 104
4
A Baroque concerto movement is usually in ritornello form, which can best be described as: A form in which showy solo passages alternate with a repeated melody in the orchestra. A form that was only ever used in instrumental music. Boring and predicatable. The most interesting formal innovation ever to descend upon Western music.
A form in which showy solo passages alternate with a repeated melody in the orchestra.
Which of the following sound effects can you NOT hear in the Spring concerto? A barking dog. Bagpipes. Birds singing. A hunting horn.
A hunting horn.
Where do the texts in Carmina Burana come from? Orff wrote the texts himself and had them translated into Latin by a scholar. A medieval manuscript of poems in Latin, Middle High German, and Old French written by wandering clerics. The texts were written in the 1930s as Nazi propoganda. The texts are all taken from the liturgy of the Roman Catholic Church.
A medieval manuscript of poems in Latin, Middle High German, and Old French written by wandering clerics.
The program for Vivaldi's Spring concerto comes from: A walk he took in the woods. A poem that he found in a book. A poem that he wrote himself. A novelty calendar that was hanging on his wall.
A poem that he wrote himself.
What is a symphonic poem? Any program work for symphony orchestra that is accompanied by a descriptive poem. A work for symphony orchestra that incorporates the reading of a poem. A multi-movement program work for symphony orchestra that paints a picture or tells a story. A single-movement program work for symphony orchestra that paints a picture or tells a story.
A single-movement program work for symphony orchestra that paints a picture or tells a story.
Symphonie Fantastique tells the story of: A pagan ritual in which witches sacrifice a young girl. A young artist who becomes obsessed with a girl, overdoses on drugs, and hallucinates his own death. The French Revolution. An artist who is a hopeless drug addict and satanist.
A young artist who becomes obsessed with a girl, overdoses on drugs, and hallucinates his own death.
Vivaldi was one of the first composers to: Visit America. Play an instrument. Build a career composing instrumental music. Have red hair.
Build a career composing instrumental music.
Mussorgsky and Hartmann were both interested in: Paintings. Russian history. Creating uniquely Russian art and ridding themselves of European influence. Education reform in Russian schools.
Creating uniquely Russian art and ridding themselves of European influence.
What is the story behind Haydn's "Farewell" Symphony? There is no story, because this symphony is an example of absolute music. Haydn wanted to quit his job, and he used this symphony to do it. Haydn's employer was leaving on a long trip, so he composed this symphony as a way to say goodbye. Haydn's employer had kept the orchestra at his summer palace into November, and he was trying to communicate the message that they all wanted to go home to their families.
Haydn's employer had kept the orchestra at his summer palace into November, and he was trying to communicate the message that they all wanted to go home to their families.
It was really important to Berlioz that his audience knew the program for Symphonie Fantastique. How did he ensure that they were familiar with it? He had it broadcast on the radio. He published a pamphlet and sold it in the street. He had it incorporated into the public school curriculum. He had it published in the Paris newspapers and distributed it at the premiere.
He had it published in the Paris newspapers and distributed it at the premiere.
Which of the following is NOT true about Berlioz? He won the Prix de Rome in 1830. He spent time studying music in Italy. He married the girl for whom Symphonie Fantastique was composed (Harriet Smithson) and they lived happily ever after. He made an intricate plot to murder his ex-fiance, her mother, and her betrothed while dressed as a woman, after which he planned to shoot himself.
He married the girl for whom Symphonie Fantastique was composed (Harriet Smithson) and they lived happily ever after.
Which of the following is NOT true of Franz Liszt? He was from Hungary. He spoke Hungarian. He was a virtuoso pianist who toured Europe for many years. He composed Hungarian-sounding music that reflected his origins.
He spoke Hungarian.
What did Vivaldi do for a living? He was able to support himself just by publishing his instrumental compositions. He taught violin in a girls' orphanage. He taught violin lessons to the citizens of Venice. He performed in public as a virtuoso and made money by selling concert tickets.
He taught violin in a girls' orphanage.
Which of the following best represents Holst's attitude towards The Planets? He was extremely proud of it throughout his life. He loved getting to conduct individual movements on charity concerts. He thought his later stuff was better and hated how popular it was. He was never happy with how it was performed and always wanted the orchestras to do a better job.
He thought his later stuff was better and hated how popular it was.
How did Beethoven change the nature of the symphony? He transformed it into a weighty, serious genre and only composed nine. He changed it to have five movements instead of four. He turned the symphony into a programatic genre (i.e. the "Pastoral" symphony). He mostly ignored the genre of the symphony. That's why he wrote so few.
He transformed it into a weighty, serious genre and only composed nine.
What did Bartok do in 1904-5 that greatly influenced his work as a composer? He studied with Beethoven in Vienna. He enrolled in the Paris Conservatory. He travelled around Eastern Europe collecting folk music from peasants. He travelled to the United States and heard the music of African Americans.
He travelled around Eastern Europe collecting folk music from peasants.
How did Liszt make his music sound "Hungarian"? He only composed music for performance on authentic Hungarian folk instruments. He always hired Hungarian performers to play his music. He used the exotic-sounding "Hungarian scale" and imitated the sound of Hungarian folk instruments. He features authentic Hungarian folk tunes in all of his compositions.
He used the exotic-sounding "Hungarian scale" and imitated the sound of Hungarian folk instruments.
What was Orff's original vision for Carmina Burana? He wanted it to be performed at all government and party functions. He wanted it to embody Nazi "youth culture" and become an icon of the political party. He wanted it to be fully staged, with elements of dance, costume, design, and theatrical gesture. He wanted it to terrify the Allied forces and thereby help Germany to win the war.
He wanted it to be fully staged, with elements of dance, costume, design, and theatrical gesture.
Which of the following is NOT true of Beethoven? He began to go deaf while still a young man. He was a pleasant fellow and had a happy family life. He was the first composer to be idolized in his own lifetime. He was responsible for making the symphony into the most artistically significant genre of the 19th century.
He was a pleasant fellow and had a happy family life.
Why did Haydn write symphonies? They were intended for publication and sale. He used them to enhance his own reputation as a conductor. He was required to write symphonies by his employer, who put on weekly private concerts at his estate. He wrote symphonies for performance on his own subscription concerts, which provided an important source of income.
He was required to write symphonies by his employer, who put on weekly private concerts at his estate.
Why did Mozart write symphonies? They were intended for publication and sale. He used them to enhance his own reputation as a conductor. He was required to write symphonies by his employer, who put on weekly private concerts at his estate. He wrote symphonies for performance on his own subscription concerts, which provided an important source of income.
He wrote symphonies for performance on his own subscription concerts, which provided an important source of income.
What are the various scenes depicted in "The Moldau"? It just depicts the rushing of the river through Prague. It depicts scenes in the daily life of Prague, such as a wedding, a busy market, and a festival. It depicts the origins of the river, a country wedding, a scene with mermaids, and the final crashing of the river into its final destination. It depicts all of the different creatures that live in the river, such as fish, ducks, and mermaids.
It depicts the origins of the river, a country wedding, a scene with mermaids, and the final crashing of the river into its final destination.
Mars is subtitled "the Bringer of War." Which of the following is a strange compositional choice made by Holst in his attempt to portray Mars? It gets very loud and uses lots of low brass. It is in the minor mode and sounds ominous. It has sharp, persistant, repeating rhythms. It is in quintuple time.
It is in quintuple time.
What was Bartok's objection to the music of Liszt? It was too showy and lacked artistic value. It was based on gypsy tunes, which did not represent authentic Hungarian folk music. It was all composed for the piano, an instrument that Bartok did not care for. It was composed for foreign audiences instead of for Hungarian audiences.
It was based on gypsy tunes, which did not represent authentic Hungarian folk music.
Which of the following is NOT an effect that Beethoven uses to portray a violent thunderstorm? Large metal sheets known as "thunder sheets." Rapid chromatic scales, arpeggios, and constantly shifting harmonies. Timpani, which pound to make the sound of thunder. Two different effects in the strings: tremolo to represent wind, and short, staccato strokes to represent raindrops.
Large metal sheets known as "thunder sheets."
Where does the program for movements 2 and 3 of the "New World" Symphony come from? Dvorak made it up himself. American folklore. American history. Longfellow's epic poem Hiawatha.
Longfellow's epic poem Hiawatha.
Which of the following is NOT one of the three ways Bartok recommended that composers incorporate folk music into their writing? Write a simple accompaniment for an existing folk tune, but leave the melody untouched. Compose imitation folk tunes that sound convincing but are not genuine. Make sure that your music is always performed by authentic folk musicians. Study and absord the characteristics of folk music. Then compose music that does not sound folksy but does share certain basic elements with the folk tradition.
Make sure that your music is always performed by authentic folk musicians.
The "Pastoral" Symphony tells the story of: A man who journey's the the country and gets caught in a violent thunderstorm. A community of peasants who are happy to live out in nature instead of in the city. Ancient pagan gods at a wine festival. Nothing in particular; it only represents a series of moods that might be brought on by a visit to the countryside.
Nothing in particular; it only represents a series of moods that might be brought on by a visit to the countryside.
What are the five movement in Symphonie Fantastique? Morning Mood, Asa's Death, Anitra's Dance, March to the Scaffold, In the Hall of the Mountain King The Girl, The Ball, The Countryside, The Execution, The Funeral Reveries-Passions, A Ball, Scene in the Fields, March to the Scaffold, Dreams of a Witches Sabbath 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 (the movements don't have special names).
Reveries-Passions, A Ball, Scene in the Fields, March to the Scaffold, Dreams of a Witches Sabbath
What is the program for Pictures at an Exhibition? The music portrays a collection of pictures that do not really exist, because Mussorgsky imagined them. The music is supposed to be an imaginary tour through the famous St. Petersburg art museum. The music is supposed to be an imaginary tour through a special exhibit put on in 1874 to commemorate the artist Viktor Hartmann. The music is supposed to represent the experience of reading through an art catolog, turning the pages one by one.
The music is supposed to be an imaginary tour through a special exhibit put on in 1874 to commemorate the artist Viktor Hartmann.
How does "The Hut on Fowl's Legs" represent the artistic goals of both Mussorgsky and Hartmann? The painting is based on Russian folklore, while the music is unusual and avoids common European forms and harmonies. The painting and the music are both full of covert references to Russian supremacy. This piece is about gnomes, which play an important role in Russian folk tradition. They don't.
The painting is based on Russian folklore, while the music is unusual and avoids common European forms and harmonies.
How did Edvard Grieg come to compose "Peer Gynt"? The idea for the piece struck him while he was out walking in the Norwegian woods. The playwright Henrik Ibsen commissioned him to write the music to accompany his play of the same name. He was so inspired by Henrik Ibsen's play of the same name that he created an orchestral suite based on the story. This was an old piece that Grieg had composed earlier in his life. He just added descriptive titles to make it more commercial.
The playwright Henrik Ibsen commissioned him to write the music to accompany his play of the same name.
Which of the following did NOT contribute to "Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2"? Liszt's recollections of hearing gypsy musicians as a child in Hungary. The two-part form of Hungarian dance music, which starts with a slow, dramatic section but increases in volume and tempo for the conclusion. Liszt's need for difficult, virtuosic music to perform in his recitals. The requirements of publishers, who knew that they could sell exotic-sounding piano music.
The requirements of publishers, who knew that they could sell exotic-sounding piano music.
What do Vivaldi and Beethoven both do to evoke peasant festivities? They both feature the oboe and french horn. They both recreate the sound of bagpipes. They both use ritornello form. They both compose music in quadruple meter.
They both recreate the sound of bagpipes.
How might one best describe the broad characteristics of 18th-century symphonies by Mozart and Haydn? They were long, serious, and very difficult to play. They were about 25 minutes long, usually in the major mode, and intended as light entertainment. They were in three movements: the first in sonata form, the second slow, and the third a theme and variations. They were very difficult to understand, and required a highly trained audience with enormous expertise in the field of symphonic music.
They were about 25 minutes long, usually in the major mode, and intended as light entertainment.
What was Dvorak's advice to American composers? To quit composing because they were crummy. To study in Europe. To create an authentic American style by imitating the sounds of birds and trying to portray the American landscape. To create an authentic American style by incorporating the music of African Americans and Native Americans.
To create an authentic American style by incorporating the music of African Americans and Native Americans.
All six of the melodies in Romanian Folk Dances were collected by Bartok himself in the region of ___________. Transcaucasia Romania Hungary Transylvania
Transylvania
Which of the following is NOT true about "Peer Gynt"? You have to know the plot of the play to understand and enjoy the music. Each of the four movements is very simple and captures a single, obvious mood. Grieg created two "Peer Gynt" suites to salvage some of the music he wrote for Ibsen's play. Grieg intended the last movement, "In the Hall of the Mountain King," to be ridiculous and over-the-top.
You have to know the plot of the play to understand and enjoy the music.