Music History

Which of these composers is NOT considered part of the Renaissance Era's Franco-Flemish School?

• Josquin des Prez

• Felix Mendelssohn

• Orlande de Lassus

• Johannes Ockeghem

Answer explanation

Felix Mendelssohn is a German composer from the early part of the Romantic Era.

Which composer is most often credited with ushering in the Romantic movement in music?

• Franz Josef Haydn

• Igor Stravinsky

• Felix Mendelssohn

• Ludwig van Beethoven

Answer explanation

Beethoven's music is generally regarded as the most significant driving force that pushed European composers away from Classical styles towards Romantic, especially with his 3rd symphony (nicknamed "Eroica").

J.S. Bach is most famous for playing/composing for which instrument?

• Violin

• Harpsicord

• Trumpet

• Organ

Answer explanation

Bach is known for many types of music written for a variety of instruments, but he is most famous for his organ works.

Because it was capable of playing loudly and softly, unlike the harpsicord which had only one volume, what was the original name given to what we now call the piano?

(a)  

Which of these composers was born the earliest?

• Franz Josef Haydn

• W.A. Mozart

• Georg Philipp Telemann

• Richard Wagner

Answer explanation

German Baroque composer and organist Telemann (1681-1767) was more famous than Bach when they were both alive. Telemann was older than Bach, and he outlived Bach by 17 years.

Which of these modern-day countries would not have been a part of the Franco Flemish region?

• Portugal

• Netherlands

• Belgium

• France

Which composer is most famous for writing operas?

• Ludwig van Beethoven

• Antonio Vivaldi

• Richard Wagner

• Gustav Mahler

Answer explanation

Richard Wagner's operas have been an enormous influence on musicians since the late 1800s, including John Williams, Gustav Mahler, Richard Strauss, and Stan Kenton.

Which composer wrote the greatest number of symphonies?

• Richard Wagner

• Franz Josef Haydn

• Ludwig van Beethoven

• W.A. Mozart

Answer explanation

Wagner -1

Beethoven - 9

Mozart - 41

Haydn - 100+

Impressionism is an offshoot of which musical movement/era?

• Baroque

• Classical

• Romantic

Answer explanation

Impressionism is a mostly French artistic movement that shows up in nearly all forms of artwork. Debussy and Ravel are the two composers most identified with impressionism, but they both disliked that term.

Which composer was almost never a conductor?

• Felix Mendelssohn

• Ludwig van Beethoven

• Richard Wagner

• Gustav Mahler