Music

Question 1

The repetitive title of which 1975 song by Abba contained 10 words but only a
total of 15 letters?

Answer 1

I Do I Do I Do I Do I Do

Question 2

Which word for a group of four musicians, or a work performed by them,
completes the title of the Joseph Haydn piece, the Emperor ____?

Answer 2

Quartet

Question 3

The repetitive title of which 1980 song by the Police contained 8 words but a total
of only 16 letters?

Answer 3

De Do Do Do De Da Da Da

Question 4

Which word of Italian origin for an instrumental piece, typically in three
movements and performed by one soloist accompanied by an orchestra,
completes the title of the Beethoven piece the Emperor ____?

Answer 4

Concerto

Question 5

Which Scottish rock band, fronted by brothers Jim and William Reid, had their
biggest hit single with April Skies in 1987?

Answer 5

Jesus and Mary Chain

Question 6

Which band, founded in Dublin in 1976, were originally called The Hype?

Answer 6

U2

Question 7

Which Mercury Prize winning band also received unsuccessful nominations in
2001 for Asleep in the Back and 2011 for Build a Rocket Boys!, before and after
their winning album in 2008?

Answer 7

Elbow

Question 8

Part of Handel’s Messiah oratorio, what word, an archaic third-person singular,
completes the aria titled I Know That My Reedemer…?

Answer 8

Liveth

Question 9

Which band, founded in Manchester in 1991, were originally called The Rain?

Answer 9

Oasis

Question 10

In Henry Purcell’s opera Dido and Aeneas, the aria known as Dido’s Lament is
sung by Dido following her betrayal by Aeneas and before her tragic suicide.
What word completes the common alternative name of this aria: When I am laid
in…?

Answer 10

Earth

Question 11

Which Mercury Prize winning band also received unsuccessful nominations in
2015 for My Love is Cool and 2021 for Blue Weekend, before and after their
winning album in 2018?

Answer 11

Wolf Alice

Question 12

Derived from two Sanskrit words, Turangalila is the name of the only symphony by which 20th-century composer, and pioneered the use of the ondes Martenot as an orchestral instrument?

Answer 12

Olivier Messiaen

Question 13

In 2022, which American singer’s application to trademark the slogan “Queen of
Christmas” was blocked by the US Patent and Trademark Office? Her
association with the festive period stems from a ubiquitous 1994 hit song.

Answer 13

Mariah Carey

Question 14

In the lyrics for the Lou Reed classic Walk on the Wild Side, Holly came from
which US city?

Answer 14

Miami

Question 15

In 2015, which singer and musician was successful in her application to
trademark the slogan “Party Like it’s 1989”? It was both her year of birth and the
title of one of her albums.

Answer 15

Taylor Swift

Question 16

Taking its title from the Sanskrit, Satyagraha is an opera by which composer, unusually scored for strings and woodwind only, with no brass or percussion?

Answer 16

Philip Glass

Question 17

Also played to the same tune as the British national anthem, Samuel Francis
Smith’s patriotic song America is better known by its opening words. What are
they?

Answer 17

My Country ‘Tis of Thee

Question 18

In the lyrics for the Beatles classic Get Back, Jojo left his home in which US city?

Answer 18

Tucson

Question 19

What was the five-word title of the first of two albums released by Lana Del Rey in 2021? It was preceded by single releases of Let Me Love You Like a Woman and the title track.

Answer 19

Chemtrails over the Country Club

Question 20

What was the alliterative two-word title of the second of two albums released by Lana Del Rey in 2021? It was preceded by single releases of Arcadia and the title track.

Answer 20

Blue Banisters

Question 21

The pianist and composer Clara Wieck was better known under what surname, following her marriage in 1840?

Answer 21

Schumann

Question 22

Clara Schumann was a strong critic of which German operatic composer, who contrasted with her conservative style? She called his Lohengrin “horrible” and described Tristan and Isolde as “the most repugnant thing I have ever seen or heard in all my life”?

Answer 22

Richard Wagner

Question 23

The Wicked Witch of the West in the musical Wicked has what unusual first
name, chosen as an homage to the original author of the Oz novels?

Answer 23

Elphaba

Question 24

In which 1966 number one single by the Beatles is the title character’s name
followed by the words “picks up the rice in the church where a wedding has
been”?

Answer 24

Eleanor Rigby

Question 25

The fourth movement in Camille Saint-Saens’ Carnival of the Animals is named
for Tortoises and features a slowed-down version of which piece of music,
originally composed by Jacques Offenbach?

Answer 25

Galop Infernal/Infernal Gallop

Question 26

Which song, written by Max Martin, was rejected by the groups the Backstreet
Boys, TLC and Five before its release in 1998 became the debut smash hit for
Britney Spears?

Answer 26

… Baby One More Time

Question 27

In which 1968 number one single by the Beatles is the title character’s name
followed by the words “children at your feet, wonder how you manage to make
ends meet”?

Answer 27

Lady Madonna

Question 28

Which good witch is Elphaba’s counterpart and the other principal character in
the musical Wicked?

Answer 28

Glinda/Galinda

Question 29

Which song with a single-word title, written by Cathy Dennis, was turned down by
Kylie Minogue before it became a 2003 smash hit for Britney Spears?

Answer 29

Toxic

Question 30

The twelfth movement of Carnival of the Animals is named for Fossils, and
features a xylophonic version of which of Saint-Saens’ earlier pieces?

Answer 30

Danse Macabre

Question 31

Which English rock band had their biggest hit singles with 1989’s Hey You and
1990’s I Don’t Love You Anymore? Following a 2022 split, the singer Spike and
guitarist Guy Griffin now lead two separate lineups in ongoing dispute over their
name.

Answer 31

The Quireboys

Question 32

What name, the first of seven mentioned in the chorus of Lou Bega’s Mambo No.
5, is shared by the tennis player Seles, the Friends character Geller and the
former White House intern Lewinsky?

Answer 32

Monica

Question 33

Which is the largest and lowest pitched of the four types of musical instrument
making up the string section of a standard symphony orchestra?

Answer 33

Double Bass

Question 34

In 2014, whose song Happy had three separate spells at number one in the UK
singles chart, and ended as the best performing single of the year?

Answer 34

Pharrell Williams

Question 35

Which is the largest and lowest pitched of the four types of musical instrument
making up the brass section of a standard symphony orchestra?

Answer 35

Tuba

Question 36

Which London hard rock band, fronted by Danny Bowes and named for a natural
phenomenon, had their biggest hit singles with 1991’s Love Walked In and
1993’s A Better Man? They have had something of a resurgence in recent years,
with all five albums released since 2015 reaching the top ten.

Answer 36

Thunder

Question 37

What name, the last of seven mentioned in the chorus of Lou Bega’s Mambo
No. 5, is shared by the tennis player Pegula, the singer Simpson, the actress
Alba, and the fictional detective Fletcher?

Answer 37

Jessica

Question 38

Abel Tesfaye is the real name of which Canadian singer and songwriter, whose
song Blinding Lights had three separate spells at number one in the UK singles
chart in 2020, and ended as the best performing single of the year?

Answer 38

The Weeknd