Classical Composers
Which composer is known for writing symphonies, operas, piano sonatas, and chamber music during the Classical period, all marked by clear form and graceful melody?
A) Igor Stravinsky
B) Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
C) Gustav Mahler
D) John Williams
B) Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Neo-classical composers were interested in:
A) Rejecting all formal structure
B) Reviving older forms like sonata and fugue but using modern harmonic language
C) Writing exclusively for folk instruments
D) Avoiding melody entirely
B) Reviving older forms like sonata and fugue but using modern harmonic language
Romantic composer Johannes Brahms is known for:
A) Writing only electronic music
B) Avoiding traditional forms entirely
C) Blending classical structure with deep emotional expression
D) Focusing only on vocal music
C) Blending classical structure with deep emotional expression
As a child, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was especially known for:
A) Starting his career as a professional conductor at age 5
B) Showing extraordinary musical talent as a performer and composer at a very young age
C) Writing only folk songs until adulthood
D) Avoiding formal music training entirely until later in life
B) Showing extraordinary musical talent as a performer and composer at a very young age
Neo-classical music often blends:
A) Classical forms with modern harmonies and rhythms
B) Romantic melodies with medieval tuning systems
C) Only folk instruments and electronic sounds
D) Strict twelve-tone serialism with Baroque ornamentation
A) Classical forms with modern harmonies and rhythms
Which Romantic-era composer is especially known for his operas, such as The Ring Cycle, and for expanding the orchestra?
A) Richard Wagner
B) Joseph Haydn
C) Antonio Vivaldi
D) J.R.R Tolkien
A) Richard Wagner
2. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is especially known for his ability to:
A) Write extremely long symphonies with no clear form
B) Combine beautiful melodies with elegant, balanced structure
C) Focus only on experimental electronic music
D) Avoid writing operas entirely
B) Combine beautiful melodies with elegant, balanced structure
Neo-Classical music is often seen as a reaction against:
A) The emotional excess and unpredictability of Romantic-era music
B) The formal clarity of Classical music
C) Medieval vocal chant
D) The simplicity of folk music
A) The emotional excess and unpredictability of Romantic-era music
Which composer is often viewed as a bridge between the Classical and Romantic eras?
A) Johann Sebastian Bach
B) Ludwig van Beethoven
C) Claude Debussy
D) Antonio Vivaldi
B) Ludwig van Beethoven
Which Classical-era composer spent much of his career employed by the Esterházy family and was known for humor and creativity in his works?
A) Joseph Haydn
B) Hector Berlioz
C) Sergei Rachmaninoff
D) Gustav Mahler
A) Joseph Haydn
A common thread connecting Hummel, Brahms, and early 20th-century neo-classical composers is:
A) Interest in blending formal clarity with personal or emotional expression
B) Avoidance of traditional musical structures
C) Exclusive focus on electronic sound design
D) Writing only for solo voice and lute
A) Interest in blending formal clarity with personal or emotional expression
4. Romantic composers such as Tchaikovsky and Dvořák often drew inspiration from:
A) Folk melodies and rhythms of their home countries
B) Ancient Greek modes
C) Electronic sound design
D) Strict Baroque counterpoint
A) Folk melodies and rhythms of their home countries
After Joseph Haydn’s long service to the Esterházy family, which composer succeeded him as Kapellmeister (music director)?
A) Ludwig van Beethoven
B) Franz Schubert
C) Johann Nepomuk Hummel
D) Richard Wagner
C) Johann Nepomuk Hummel
The Neo-Classical movement in music is best described as:
A) A return to Classical-era forms and clarity combined with modern harmonic and rhythmic ideas
B) A focus on experimental electronic sounds
C) A rejection of all traditional forms and structures
D) A style that only uses medieval plainchant
A) A return to Classical-era forms and clarity combined with modern harmonic and rhythmic ideas
Which Romantic composer is famous for his ballet music, including The Nutcracker and Swan Lake?
A) Johannes Brahms
B) Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
C) Giuseppe Verdi
D) Franz Liszt
B) Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky