Why Listen To Brahms?

The conflict among composers in the 1800s (between the New German School and the Conservatives) was called the War of the ___________________.

• Roses

• Conductors

• 1812s

• Romantics

Wagner thought that the future of art music should focus on __________.

• opera

• concertos

• sonatas

• none of these

In contrast, conservative composers like Brahms believed in pure, ___________ music like Beethoven wrote.

• piano

• string

• absolute

• programmatic

When we speak of "Classical Music" we are actually referring to an established _________________ of classics.

• symphony

• repertoire

• concerto

• preference

Brahms actually felt _____________ to compose music which fit this model of classic literature.

• pressure

• nothing

• a desire to separate

• none of these

He needed to assimilate the techniques and ________ of the past but also write music that was fresh and ______________.

• harmonies; rhythmic

• forms; aleatoric

• styles; original

• none of these

It wasn't until Brahms was ____ years old that he finished his first Symphony (14 years total to write it!)

• 23

• 37

• 43

• 50

The Symphony bears a similarity to the sounds of the famous composer ________________.

• Bach

• Mozart

• Haydn

• Beethoven

In fact, the similarity to the 9th Symphony by Beethoven led critics to call Brahms First Symphony "________________________."

• Beethoven's Tenth

• Beethoven's Extension

• Beethoven, the Sequel

• none of these

This was the only Symphony he ever wrote.

• True

• False