General Classical Works Flashcards
The Chairman Dances by John Adams is an outtake from which other opera by the composer?
Nixon in China
Nixon in China is an opera by which American composer?
Adams
Allegri’s Miserere is a setting of which Psalm?
Psalm 51
Miserere is a piece by which Renaissance composer?
Allegri
Miserere by Allegri translates into what phrase?
Have Mercy on me, oh God
How many of Bach’s Brandenberg Concertos are there?
Six
The Brandenberg Concertos are orchestral works by which German composer?
Brahms
Which one-act opera by Bartok features the character of Judith arriving at the titular venue?
Duke Bluebeard’s Castle
What is unique about Bartok’s 1943 Concerto?
It is a Concerto for Orchestra
Which of Bartok’s works has a vampiric connection?
Romanian Dances
What is the name of Beethoven’s only opera?
Fidelio
Which singer originated the role of Peter Grimes?
Peter Pears
Which work by Britten concerns a misanthropic but possibly misunderstood sailor who causes the death of two of his apprentices?
Peter Grimes
Bruckner’s Symphony No 7 in E Major was partly written in tribute to which other composer?
Wagner
Which French composer wrote 24 Preludes, one for each key, and none of which were longer than 90 bars?
Chopin
What nickname was given to Chopin’s Polonaise No 6 in A Flat Major, as it was felt to represent the revolution of 1848 in France?
‘Heroic’
Which work by Aaron Copland was commissioned by Martha Graham and inspired by the story of the early American pioneers?
Appalachian Spring
Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun is a work by which French composer?
Debussy
Debussy’s Prelude 2 No. 4 contains a quote from which early 20th century book of children’s literature?
Peter Pan
Dvorak’s New World Symphony No 9 ends with a phrasing similar to which black spiritual?
Swing Low, Sweet Chariot
Which work by Dvorak was taken on Apollo 11 by Neil Armstrong?
New World Symphony No 9
Dvorak’s Cello Concerto in B Minor has been recorded three times by which renowned contemporary Chinese cellist?
Yo-Yo-Ma
Which work by Elgar may have amongst other influences in its counter melody Auld Lang Syne or Twinkle Twinkle Little Star?
The Enigma Variations
Dvorak’s last work of note was for which instrument?
Cello
Londonderry Air by Percy Grainger is probably better known as the tune for which Irish folk song?
Danny Boy
Handle’s Largo is the opening aria from which opera, and features the character admiring a plane tree?
Xerxes
Symphony No 1, The Gothic, is one of the longest and most complex symphonies to stage. Who is the composer?
Havergal Brian
Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro might be considered what form of opera?
Opera Buffa
Mozart’s longest symphony, No 41, has the name of which planet in the solar system?
Jupiter
Mozart’s final unfinished Requiem has what name?
Lacrimosa
Which composer completed Mozart’s Lacrimosa, which was unfinished when he died?
Sussmayr
The last instrumental piece that Mozart composed was a concerto for which instrument?
Clarinet
Which work by Mussorgsky was inspired by the work of artist Arthur Hartmann?
Pictures at an Exhibition
Which fellow Russian composer arranged Mussorgsky’s Night on a Bare Mountain after his death?
Rimsky-Korsakov
Which work by Pachebel has been sampled by, amongst others, The Farm and Coolio?
Canon in D Major
Which twentieth century work by a German composer is a cantata based on medieval poetry?
Carmina Burana
Which Italian Renaissance composer composed music used in the mass at Papal coronations until 1963?
Palestrina
The suite from Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet that is now perhaps best known as the theme tune to the UK Apprentice has what name?
Dance of the Knights
Which work by Ravel is an orchestration of a Spanish dance?
Bolero
Which work by Rimsky-Koraakov is based on the Arabian Nights?
Scheherazade
Which work by Schumann is partly inspired by the comedian dell’arte opera tradition?
Carnaval
Shostakovich’s Symphony No 10 in E minor is reputedly about which figure?
Stalin
Which work by Sibelius was the national anthem of the short lived nation of Biafra?
Finlandia
Smetana’s Ma vlast are a series of symphonic poems responding to the nature, myths and history of which historical region in the Czech Republic?
Bohemia
The initial fanfare in Strauss’s This Spake Zarathustra is known by what name?
Sunrise
Who composed Ein Heldenleblen, aka A Hero’s Life
Richard Strauss
Which work by Stravinsky has as it’s main characters three puppets, including one similar to that of Mr Punch?
Petrouchka
Tchaikovsky’s final symphony has what nickname, meaning passionate or emotional in Russian?
Pathetique
Which work by Tchaikovsky features a Russian Dance, a Chinese Dance, an Arabian Dance and a Dance of the Reed Flutes, alongside a far more famous one?
The Nutcracker Suite
Which of Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concertos has been used by Team Russia, the team composed of athletes unable to compete officially under the Russian banner at recent international competitions?
No 1
Which brass band has premiered work by Harrison Birthwistle and Malcolm Arnold amongst others?
Grimethorpe Colliery Band
The opening of Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet features the theme for which of the play’s characters?
Friar Laurence
Which of Wagner’s works is partly based on Norse mythology?
The Ring Cycle
Mars the Bringer of…
War
Venus the Bringer of
Peace
Which planet is the Winged Messenger?
Mercury
Jupiter, the Bringer of
Jollity
Saturn the Bringer of
Old Age
Uranus
The Magician
Neptune
The Mystic
What is special about Bach’s concerto for Violins in D Minor?
It is for two violins
What title is given to Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No 5 in E Flat?
Emperor
Beethoven only wrote one concerto for which instrument?
Violin
Copland wrote a concerto for which woodwind instrument?
Clarinet
Elgar’s Cello Concerto in E Minor has come to be associated with which cellist?
Jacqueline du Pre
How many concertos for piano for Rachmaninov write?
3
Which composer wrote the Concerto de Aranjuez?
Rodrigo
Rodrigo’s Concerto de Aranjuez was written for which instrument?
Classical guitar
Which instrument did Vivaldi write one concerto for?
Mandolin
Who was the founder of the BBC Proms?
Henry Wood
Tintinabulli is a musical approach created by which Estonian composer?
Arvo Part
2022 marks the 150th anniversary of the birth of which British composer?
Vaughan Williams
Bruch composed a ‘Fantasy’ concerto about which country?
Scotland
Mendelssohn’s final concerto was for which instrument?
Violin
Who choreographed the ballet for The Rite of Spring?
Najjnsky
Stravinsky wrote his major ballets for which impresario and company?
Diaghilev and the Ballet Russes
Which of Stravinsky’s later ballets has a title meaning anguish or struggle in Greek?
Agon
Which ballet by Stravinsky is named for and features the Green god of music?
Apollo
Oedipus Rex is an early work by which Russian composer?
Stravinsky
Which piece did Stravinsky write to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Boston Symphony Orchestra?
Symphony of Psalms
Kreisleriana consists of eight solo piano pieces dedicated to Chopin, by which composer?
Schumann
Traumeri from the work Scenes from Childhood is by which composer?
Schumann
Schumann only wrote one concerto for which instrument?
Piano
Which of Schumann’s symphonies was inspired by a trip to the Rhineland?
Rhenish
What is the name of Schumann’s song cycle espousing his love for his wife Clara?
Dichterliebe
What were the names of the pieces celebrating all things nighttime by Chopin?
Nocturnes
Which of Chopin’s pieces was partly inspired by Venetian gondola song?
Bacarolle
Chopin is associated with which Polish musical form?
Mazurkas
