How Well Do You Know Classical Music? Take Our Quiz to Find Out!
Contents
How well do you know classical music? Take our quiz to find out! You may be surprised at how much you know – or don’t know – about this important genre of music.
Introduction
How much do you know about classical music? Take our quiz to find out!
1. What is the name of the most famous opera by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart?
2. Who is considered to be the father of the symphony?
3. Which one of these composers is not part of the “Three B’s”?
4. What is the name of the composer who wrote “The Four Seasons”?
5. What ballet was composed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky?
6. Who wrote “Swan Lake”?
History of Classical Music
Classical music is art music produced or rooted in the traditions of Western music, including both liturgical (religious) and secular music. While a more precise term is also used to refer to the period from 1750 to 1820 (the Classical period), this article is about the broad span of time from before the 6th century AD to the present day, which includes the Classical period and various other periods.
Origins
The history of classical music can be traced back to the medieval era. The earliest examples of classical music date from the 9th century, when a form of plainsong called Gregorian chant was used in the Catholic Church. Around the same time, another type of music called organum began to develop. This was based on two or more Gregorian chants being sung at the same time.
The first classical composers were Frankish monks who wrote vocal music in the form of plainsong. The first known example of this is the Winchester Troper, which dates from around 1020. The first notated piece of music, however, is the St. Martial Liturgical Fragment, which dates from around 1040.
Organum began to develop into a more complex form known as discant around the 12th century. This style featured multiple parts being sung at different pitches simultaneously. The Notre Dame school of composers were the first to develop and use this style of music.
Around the 14th century, a new type of organum called motet developed. This featured different words being sung in different parts, often in different languages. The motet eventually evolved into what we now know as madrigals, which were popular in England and Italy during the 16th century.
During the Renaissance period, which lasted from approximately 1400-1600, polyphony became increasingly popular. This is where two or more independent melodies are combined into one piece of music. Composers during this era include Josquin des Prez, Giovanni Palestrina and William Byrd.
The Baroque period began in 1600 and lasted until 1750. This was a time when instrumentation began to take precedence over voices, and orchestral music became increasingly common. Notable composers from this era include Johann Sebastian Bach, Antonio Vivaldi and George Frideric Handel.
The Classical period lasted from 1750 to 1820, and was marked by a simplification of forms that had been developed during the Baroque period. The music of this era is characterized by its elegance and balance; notable composers include Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Joseph Haydn and Ludwig van Beethoven.
The Romantic period followed on from the Classical period; it lasted roughly from 1815 to 1910 and was marked by an increase in emotional expressionism in bothmusic and lyrics
Development
The history of classical music is often divided into periods. The first period is from the Early Middle Ages to the end of the Renaissance, and the second period is from the Baroque era to the Classical era. The third period is from the Romantic era to the present day.
The first period of classical music began in the Early Middle Ages and ended in the Renaissance. This period was characterized by monophonic (one voice) and polyphonic (many voices) music. The most important composers of this period were Hildegard von Bingen, Guillaume de Machaut, and Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina.
The second period of classical music began in the Baroque era and ended in the Classical era. This period was characterized by complex harmonies, counterpoint, and ornamentation. The most important composers of this period were Johann Sebastian Bach, George Frideric Handel, Antonio Vivaldi, Claudio Monteverdi, and Henry Purcell.
The third period of classical music began in the Romantic era and continues to today. This period was characterized by emotions, expressive melodies, and large-scale orchestral works. The most important composers of this period were Ludwig van Beethoven, Frederic Chopin, Franz Liszt, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Gustav Mahler, Richard Strauss, Giuseppe Verdi, Johann Strauss II, Anton Bruckner, and Richard Wagner.
Modern Era
The period from about 1750 to 1830 is known as the Classical period. This period is considered by many to be the finest in the history of Western art music. The music of Haydn and Mozart, who are perhaps the two most important composers of the period, epitomizes the style of this era. Beethoven, although his work spanned both the Classical and Romantic periods, also wrote music that fits nicely into the stylistic framework of this time.
During the Classical period, composers began to move away from the elaborate Baroque style and towards a simpler, more elegant aesthetic. Melody became increasingly important, and composers began to write works that were easier for audiences to follow and remember. Balance and contrast were also important elements of Classical-style music, as was a clear sense of structure and form.
Classical Music Quiz
Think you know classical music? Take our quiz and find out! This quiz will test your knowledge of classical music composers, history, and theory. With 10 questions, it shouldn’t take you long to finish. So what are you waiting for? Let’s get started!
Question #1
How much do you know about classical music? Take our quiz to find out!
1. What is the name of the first composer on this list?
a. Johann Sebastian Bach
b. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
c. Ludwig van Beethoven
d. Franz Schubert
2. Which of the following is NOT one of Beethoven’s symphonies?
a. Symphony No. 5 in C Minor
b. Symphony No. 6 in F Major
c. Symphony No. 7 in A Minor
d. Symphony No. 9 in D Minor
e. Symphony No. 10 in E-Flat Major
3. Who is the composer of the “Requiem Mass in D Minor”?
a. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
b. Johann Sebastian Bach
c. Giuseppe Verdi
d. Antonín Dvořák
4. What is the name of the first opera on this list?
a. The Marriage of Figaro
b. Don Giovanni
c. Così fan tutte
d. La traviata
5 Which of the following is NOT one of Verdi’s operas?
a.”La forza del destino”
b.”Don Carlos” c.”Aida” d.”Falstaff”
Question #2
What Russian composer wrote the 1812 Overture, which tells the story of Napoleon’s failed invasion of Russia?
a) Tchaikovsky
b) Prokofiev
c) Stravinsky
d) None of the above
Question #3
Who composed the Eroica Symphony?
a) Bach
b) Beethoven
c) Handel
d) Mozart
The correct answer is b) Beethoven.
Conclusion
Thanks for taking our quiz! We hope you enjoyed it and learned something new about classical music along the way. How did you do?
If you got all of the questions right, congratulations! You are a true classical music expert. If you got some of the questions wrong, don’t worry – there’s always room for improvement. Just keep listening to your favorite classical pieces and you’ll be a pro in no time!
