Strauss' Don Juan

What is the key at the start of Don Juan?

• C major
• E major
• A minor
• G major

What is unusual about the first chord of the piece?

• It is a diminished seventh chord
• It is a dominant seventh in E major
• It is a flattened submediant (C major)
• It is a Neapolitan sixth chord

Which instrument family plays the famous Don Juan theme in unison?

• Strings
• Flutes
• Horns
• Trombones

What is the overall tonal trajectory of the piece?

• Major to minor (E major to E minor)

• Minor to major (E minor to E major)

• Tonic to dominant (E major to B major)

• Tonic to subdominant (E major to A major)

Which best describes the texture of Don Juan?

• Homophonic throughout
• Mostly monophonic
• Mainly MDH (melody-dominated homophony) with contrapuntal passages
• Strictly fugal throughout

How does Strauss use orchestration in the opening section?

• Thick block chords with heavy brass focus
• Rapid semiquaver flurries and fanfares alternating with delicate textures
• A single melodic line over sustained pedal notes
• Minimal instrumentation, focusing only on woodwinds

Which of these statements about the first love theme is true?

• It is introduced by a solo violin in E minor
• It is accompanied by contrapuntal countermelodies

• It is stated in the brass section in unison
• It is based on a whole-tone scale

How does Strauss create musical storytelling in Don Juan?

• Through leitmotifs representing different characters
• Through shifts between contrasting moods and textures
• By using a rigid sonata form structure
• Through frequent recitative passages

What follows the climax of the first love theme?

• A triumphant brass chorale
• A shift to a minor key and a sense of disappointment
• A sudden moment of silence
• A fugato section in the strings

Which best describes the ending of Don Juan?

• A triumphant restatement of the main theme
• A sudden return to the opening fanfare
• A sombre and downbeat resolution in E minor
• A peaceful fade-out in the strings