Music and Dance Quiz

A ballroom dance where two partners turn around each other, famously set to "The Blue Danube" by Johann Strauss II.

A ballet known for its humorous story of a mechanical doll and energetic national dances.

A dance and Olympic sport where skaters perform jumps, spins, and lifts to music on ice.

A dance originating in Polynesia, often performed by both men and women with traditional instruments like drums and bamboo sticks.

A passionate dance where partners hold each other close and move to music, revolutionized by Astor Piazzolla in the 20th century.

A long, hollow tube that is blown into to produce sound. Many brass instruments have metal mouthpieces.

A valve added to brass instruments in the 19th century that allows for a wider range of notes to be played.

A deep-sounding bass instrument resembling a snake, with a brass mouthpiece and a wooden body with finger holes similar to woodwinds.

A large tuba-like instrument commonly used in marching bands, named after John Philip Sousa.

The act of vibrating the lips against a mouthpiece to create sound in brass instruments.

A trombone player controls the pitch by moving a slide in or out, altering the tube length.

A simple musical horn made from shells.

One of the earliest Jewish musical instruments, commonly used in religious ceremonies.

A period in classical music characterized by emotional expression, inspiration from nature and national folklore, experimentation with new harmonies, and the development of instruments.

Composers who aimed to express a wide range of human emotions and experiences through their music.

German art songs that focused on expressing emotions and stories through the combination of poetry and music.

A type of musical composition that combines musical elements with a dramatic story, poem, or historical event.

A musical form that uses a recurring theme or motif throughout different movements of a piece, creating a sense of unity and connection.

Emphasized classical forms while incorporating new musical ideas and techniques.

Operas that featured realistic characters, dramatic plots, and everyday themes, often drawing on national folklore and traditions.

A style of music that incorporated national folk melodies, rhythms, and stories into classical compositions.

Instruments like brass instruments with valves and pianos with richer tones allowed composers to create a greater variety of sounds and effects.

Composers like Schumann, Mendelssohn, and Chopin created works inspired by their personal lives, experiences, and emotions.

Edvard Grieg created a distinct Norwegian style with his music, like the popular 'Peer Gynt' suite.

Jean Sibelius, a Finnish composer, used folk music and myths to inspire his tone poems, which are orchestral pieces that tell stories.

Mikhail Glinka is considered the 'father of Russian music' because he incorporated Russian folk melodies into his operas, like 'A Life for the Tsar'.

Composers like Saint-Saëns, Fauré, and Ravel used harmonies, fantastical themes, and unique instrumentation to explore French musical identity.

Stephen Foster revived American folk music by writing songs reflecting 19th century life, showcasing the country's history and culture.

Composers like Chávez, Ginastera, and Villa-Lobos revived folk music from their respective countries in Central and South America, often influenced by indigenous traditions.

Spanish composers like Albéniz, Granados, and Falla used Spanish themes, dances, and guitar harmonies to create a unique Spanish Romantic style.

The conductor's role is to ensure musicians play together in time, convey the music's emotions to the audience, and lead rehearsals and performances.

A baton is used to direct the orchestra with precise movements, while hand gestures indicate nuances like loudness or softness.

Gustav Mahler was known for his dramatic and emotional symphonies, a style that brought a new intensity to orchestral music.

Herbert von Karajan was a highly influential conductor who shaped the sound of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra for over three decades.

Simon Rattle is known for his work with both the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, making his conducting a versatile one.

Marin Alsop made history in 2007 by becoming the first woman to lead a major US orchestra, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra.

Gustavo Dudamel, a conductor known for his energetic approach, is the Music Director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

Imagine yourself in front of an orchestra, using your facial expressions, hand movements, and body language to lead the musicians, even though they're not actually there.

A traditional Indonesian musical ensemble featuring instruments like gongs, metallophones, and drums; known for its complex rhythms and unique sound.

A type of artistic expression that emphasizes capturing the fleeting essence and subjective perception of a scene or moment, rather than depicting precise details. It uses loose and evocative brushstrokes, light and atmospheric colors, and a focus on capturing the experience of light and shadow in a given moment.

A suite of six piano pieces composed by Claude Debussy in 1908; known for its light, dreamy, and whimsical style; inspired by Debussy's daughter, Claude-Emma, whom he affectionately called Chou-Chou.

The term used by Claude Debussy to affectionately nickname his daughter, Claude-Emma. She inspired many of his works, including the "Children's Corner" suite.

Debussy's first orchestral masterpiece, composed in 1894, inspired by a poem. The piece is characterized by a flowing and ethereal flute melody, suggestive of the dreamy thoughts of a faun playing on his panpipes. It's often described as creating a mood of languid and sensual reverie.

A type of musical structure that serves as an introduction to a larger work, often setting the scene or mood for what follows.

A style of music that became prominent in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, characterized by its atmospheric and evocative nature, using shimmering harmonies, delicate tones and a focus on creating mood rather than traditional melodic structures. Debussy is considered a key pioneer of this movement.

A piano suite that features a famous movement called "Clair de Lune." It is known for its romantic and dreamy atmosphere, with shimmering passages of notes and delicate harmonies.

A renowned French composer of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, considered a pioneer of musical impressionism; known for his evocative harmonies, dreamy melodies, and unique use of sound and color in music. He was inspired by French Impressionist artists like Claude Monet, as well as traditional Indonesian music.

Known for his unique and sometimes unconventional approach to music, Debussy used a wide range of innovative techniques, including shimmering harmonies, delicate tones, and a focus on creating mood rather than adhering to traditional musical rules. These choices were seen by some critics as potentially dangerous, challenging the conventions of Western classical music.

A piano's strings are made of steel wire, with the higher-pitched notes having two or three strings, while the lower notes are wrapped in copper wire for a richer tone. They're held under tension by the iron frame.

A flat, wooden board located beneath the piano's strings. It vibrates when the strings are played, amplifying the sound.

The visible part of the action that you press to play notes. Traditionally, white keys were made of ivory, and black keys were made of ebony wood. Nowadays, they are often made of plastic. The white and black key pattern repeats in every octave.

The part of the piano that connects the keyboard to the hammers. When a key is pressed, it triggers a hammer to strike the string.

These pedals control the sound of the piano: the soft pedal softens the sound, the sostenuto pedal sustains already played notes while allowing others to be played normally, and the damper/sustain pedal keeps all played notes sounding.

A type of grand piano that is generally smaller than a concert grand, starting at 5 feet 4 inches (162 cm) in length or less.

The largest and most resonant type of grand piano, often measuring up to 9 feet 10 inches (3 meters) in length.

The invention that revolutionized piano playing speed, allowing for extremely fast key playing.

The core structure of a grand piano that supports the tension of the strings. It was first patented in 1843.

A prestigious piano company that was established in 1853. Their pianos are known for their craftsmanship and quality.

Tchaikovsky's first ballet, "Swan Lake", was initially criticized for being too challenging to perform. Despite this, it is now a beloved ballet favorite for dancers and audiences alike.

Although The Nutcracker had a disappointing debut, it has become a beloved tradition, especially during the Christmas season. Many people are familiar with its music, even if they haven't seen the ballet.

Tchaikovsky's musical style is often characterized by its emotional depth, reflecting his own introspective nature. This can be seen in both his sorrowful and joyful compositions.

This collection of piano pieces was dedicated to Tchaikovsky's nephew and is a charming collection of simple tunes for children. Titles like "The Dolls Funeral" and "Mama" create a playful and nostalgic atmosphere.

Tchaikovsky felt a strong connection to the work of Mozart, particularly admiring Mozart's dance music and minuets. He also drew inspiration from Schumann's symphonies and choral works, especially his Children's Album.

Tchaikovsky's life was marked by a period of financial support from Madame von Meck, a wealthy widow who provided him with a substantial allowance to focus on composing. They never met in person, making their relationship even more intriguing.

A group of five Russian composers who aimed to create a uniquely Russian musical identity in the 19th century. They rejected imitating Western styles and instead focused on Russian folklore, legends, and traditions.

The leader of The Mighty Handful, known for encouraging other composers but struggling to complete his own works.

A chemist who composed music in his free time, known for his romantic approach and lively choral music.

A composer known for his operas and children's songs, drawing inspiration from Russian folktales. His music often incorporated elements of Russian folk music.

A composer known for his earthy musical style and a turbulent life. His music often featured a raw and direct approach.

A composer who combined his naval career with music. He blended Russian and Western musical styles in his works and was a prolific opera composer.

An opera by Rimsky-Korsakov, based on a magical story of romance and deception containing the famous "Flight of the Bumblebee". It follows the fate of a prince transformed into an insect.

An opera by Borodin (completed by Rimsky-Korsakov), featuring the famous Polovetsian dances. This ballet tells the story of a Russian prince captured in a desert camp.

The oldest brass instrument, dating back over 3,500 years, originally made from animal horns and seashells. To play, musicians buzz their lips into a mouthpiece, vibrating air through a curved tube.

A curved metal tube, the essential part of a trumpet, that amplifies and directs the vibrating air produced by the musician's lips.

Metal devices added to the bell of the trumpet to change the sound quality. Common types include the Harmon mute and the hat mute.

A key feature of most modern trumpet models, added around 1815. These valves can be pressed down to change the length of the vibrating tube, allowing for a wider range of notes to be played.

A musical composition that tells a story through music, often with program notes explaining each movement.

Berlioz's groundbreaking symphony, composed in 1830, tells the story of a despairing artist's tortured dreams.

A recurring musical theme that represents a specific character or idea in a musical composition.

The art of arranging instruments in an orchestra, considering their unique sounds and capabilities.

A group of instruments that play together to create a particular sound.

Berlioz's self-taught mastery of combining instruments, explained in his book.

Berlioz's admiration for Gluck's opera music, which he heard in Paris.

Berlioz's overwhelming response to the emotional depth of Beethoven's symphonies.

A composer who revolutionized orchestral sound, introduced program music, and was known for his conducting and writing.