Category: Brain Teasers

Trivia: What was the first orchestra in the United States?

Cleveland Orchestra
Hollywood Symphony Orchestra
New York Philharmonic
Yale Symphony Orchestra

The correct answer is New York Philharmonic

So why is this answer correct? : The New York Philharmonic became the first orchestra in the U.S. when it was founded in 1842 by a group of local musicians. Today, the highly regarded ensemble plays live for millions in New York and cities around the world. Aside from live shows, the group has also produced more than 2,000 recordings since 1917, and in 2003, it made history as the first orchestra to appear solo at the Grammy awards.

Trivia: What does a conductor’s left hand typically do while conducting?

Snap fingers
Interpret the music
Entertain the audience
Hold sheet music

The correct answer is Interpret the music

So why is this answer correct? : Many conductors use both hands to conduct, but each person may have their own individual style. Beyond waving a baton, conducting also involves musical interpretation, allowing each conductor to put their own spin on the music. The left hand — if the conductor holds the baton in their right — uses common and individual gestures that pull more meaning from the music, as well as create and control its expression.

Trivia: What do upbeats and downbeats do for the orchestra?

Dictate volume
Determine who plays
Keep time
Entertain the audience

The correct answer is Keep time

So why is this answer correct? : Conductors typically signal upbeats and downbeats by flicking their batons up and down. When keeping time, upbeats stand for numbered beats, while downbeats are the brief rest between them. They tell the orchestra when to start playing and how fast.

Trivia: What is the highest-pitched member of the orchestra?

Contrabassoon
French horn
Piccolo
Timpani

The correct answer is Piccolo

So why is this answer correct? : The piccolo is the smallest woodwind instrument and the highest-pitched orchestral instrument. On average, an orchestra will only feature one piccolo, but occasionally, two or more can play together. The piccolo is only 13 inches long and means “small flute” in Italian. It is also a transverse flute, meaning it is held horizontally while being played.

Trivia: What instrument is considered the leader of the brass section?

Principal trumpet
Bass saxophone
Principal trombone
First oboe

The correct answer is Principal trumpet

So why is this answer correct? : The orchestra is divided into instrument groups, and within those, there can be even more divisions. The brass section, for example, has a subset called the low brass section. The principal trombone is the leader of the low brass, but the principal trumpet player is considered the leader of the entire section. The woodwind section is the only one without a leading principal, though the flute typically leads in a woodwind ensemble.

Trivia: What instruments are placed at the front near the conductor?

Flutes
Violins
Trumpets
Drums

The correct answer is Violins

So why is this answer correct? : While there have been changes to orchestral seating arrangements over the centuries, today, the violins sit up front beside the conductor. The string instruments are quieter, so if they were placed in the back, they wouldn’t be heard over loud brass instruments such as tubas and trombones. Plus, playing the string instruments requires more physical movement, so it’s considered a more entertaining show for the audience.

Trivia: The word “orchestra” came from the Greek term “orcheisthai,” meaning what?

To dance
To sing
To laugh
To cry

The correct answer is To dance

So why is this answer correct? : The word “orchestra” has been around for millennia. In ancient Greece, an “orchēstra” was the circular space used by the chorus on stage at the front of a theater. They named this space from the word “orcheisthai,” meaning “to dance.” Today, it’s taken on a similar, modern definition to describe a group of musicians organized to perform ensemble music, or it can describe the physical space in front of the stage that is used by musicians.

Trivia: What is the difference between chamber and symphony orchestras?

Chamber is smaller
Chamber is larger
Symphony is a proper name
There’s no difference

The correct answer is Chamber is smaller

So why is this answer correct? : Chambers, symphonies, and philharmonics are all types of orchestras, but they’re not always synonymous. Chamber orchestras include 50 or fewer people, while symphonies might have a hundred or more. Philharmonics and symphonies are exactly the same in everything but name, as philharmonics are only used as proper names — such as in the New York Philharmonic — rather than as a general term.

Trivia: Which of these is NOT a tempo instruction?

Largo
Presto
Nonet
Adagio

The correct answer is Nonet

So why is this answer correct? : Tempo instructions tell the conductor the speed at which to lead the musicians to create a specific sound. In orchestra settings, Italian words are used to indicate the tempo. “Largo” means wide or broad, indicating a very slow tempo. “Presto” means very fast, and “adagio” means slow and stately.

Trivia: What is the orchestral piece played at the beginning of an opera?

Overture
Concerto
Aria
Cadenza

The correct answer is Overture

So why is this answer correct? : Overtures, French for “opening,” have been around since the 17th century. Over time, they evolved in opera from an attention-grabbing tune to a more melodic opening that eases the audience into a performance. However, Italian overtures have a more erratic pattern to help focus the audience for the performance.