Which string instrument is played with a bow, held under the chin?
Answer : The violin
The violin is a string instrument played with a bow, held under the chin.
Questions and answers: Music
Revise Music: here is a selection of questions of every level, with the answer and an explanation. To test yourself without seeing the answers, play the quizzes.
Play the Music quizzesVery easy
Which British rock band of the 1970s-1980s had Freddie Mercury as its singer?
Answer : Queen
Queen, a British band, had Freddie Mercury as its iconic singer.
Which wind instrument, made of wood or metal, is played by blowing sideways into a mouthpiece?
Answer : The flute
The flute is played by blowing sideways across a mouthpiece.
Which African-American musical genre, born in the early 20th century, is characterized by improvisation and swing?
Answer : Jazz
Jazz, born in the United States, is characterized by improvisation and swing.
Which percussion instrument is struck with sticks and forms the rhythmic backbone of a rock band?
Answer : The drum kit
The drum kit, made of several drums and cymbals, forms the rhythmic backbone of a rock band.
Which American singer has been nicknamed the 'Queen of Pop' since the 1980s?
Answer : Madonna
Madonna has been nicknamed the 'Queen of Pop' since the start of her career in the 1980s.
Which type of musical ensemble brings together many musicians playing classical instruments like the violin and cello?
Answer : A symphony orchestra
A symphony orchestra brings together many musicians playing a variety of classical instruments.
Which keyboard instrument, often black and white, allows you to play several notes at once with both hands?
Answer : The piano
The piano allows you to play several notes at once thanks to its black and white keys.
Easy
Which American singer has been nicknamed the 'King of Pop' since the 1980s-1990s?
Answer : Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson has been nicknamed the 'King of Pop' since the worldwide success of his albums in the 1980s.
Which German composer of the 18th century, who became deaf later in life, wrote many famous symphonies?
Answer : Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven, who became deaf, continued to compose some of his most famous works.
Which American rock band of the 1990s, led by Kurt Cobain, popularized grunge?
Answer : Nirvana
Nirvana, led by Kurt Cobain, popularized grunge in the 1990s.
Which electronic music genre, born in clubs in the 1980s-1990s, is characterized by a fast, repetitive tempo?
Answer : Techno
Techno, born in clubs in Detroit and Europe in the 1980s, is characterized by a fast, repetitive tempo.
Which American singer, known for 'I Will Always Love You', died in 2012?
Answer : Whitney Houston
Whitney Houston, famous for 'I Will Always Love You', died in 2012.
Which instrument is associated with blues and jazz, played by blowing and drawing air through it while held to the lips?
Answer : The harmonica
The harmonica, played by blowing and drawing air through it, is closely associated with blues and jazz.
Which Swedish band is known for 1970s hits like 'Dancing Queen'?
Answer : ABBA
ABBA, a Swedish band, is known for 1970s hits like 'Dancing Queen'.
Which musical genre, born in the southern United States, blends guitar, banjo, and rural themes?
Answer : Country music
Country music, born in the southern United States, blends guitar, banjo, and rural themes.
Medium
Which 18th-century Austrian composer, a child prodigy, wrote 'The Magic Flute' and 'Don Giovanni'?
Answer : Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, an Austrian child prodigy, composed 'The Magic Flute' and 'Don Giovanni'.
Which British rock band of the 1960s-1970s, led by Robert Plant and Jimmy Page, shaped hard rock?
Answer : Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin, led by Robert Plant and Jimmy Page, heavily influenced hard rock.
Which American soul and funk singer is nicknamed 'The Godfather of Soul'?
Answer : James Brown
James Brown is nicknamed 'The Godfather of Soul' for his major influence on soul and funk music.
Which 19th-century Russian composer wrote the ballet 'Swan Lake'?
Answer : Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky composed the famous ballet 'Swan Lake'.
Which record label, closely associated with Tupac Shakur, shaped West Coast hip-hop history in the 1990s?
Answer : Death Row Records
Death Row Records, closely associated with Tupac Shakur, shaped West Coast hip-hop history in the 1990s.
Which opera by Georges Bizet features a Spanish gypsy and the soldier who falls in love with her?
Answer : Carmen
'Carmen', an opera by Georges Bizet, features a gypsy woman and the soldier Don José who falls in love with her.
Which British singer is known for the album 'Back to Black' and her premature death in 2011?
Answer : Amy Winehouse
Amy Winehouse, known for 'Back to Black', died prematurely in 2011.
Which electronic music style, popularized in the 2010s, often features deep bass sections called 'drops'?
Answer : Dubstep
Dubstep, popularized in the 2010s, is characterized by deep bass sections called 'drops'.
Hard
Which early 20th-century French impressionist composer wrote 'Clair de lune' and 'La Mer'?
Answer : Claude Debussy
Claude Debussy, a French impressionist composer, wrote 'Clair de lune' and 'La Mer'.
Which American guitarist, who died in 1970, is considered one of the greatest innovators of the electric guitar?
Answer : Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix, who died in 1970, is considered one of the greatest innovators of the electric guitar.
Which 20th-century Russian composer wrote the ballet 'The Rite of Spring', whose 1913 premiere caused a scandal?
Answer : Igor Stravinsky
Igor Stravinsky composed 'The Rite of Spring', whose 1913 premiere caused a riot in the theater.
Which American jazz saxophonist and composer, who died in 1967, is famous for the album 'A Love Supreme'?
Answer : John Coltrane
John Coltrane, a jazz saxophonist, is famous for the album 'A Love Supreme', released in 1965.
Which 19th-century German composer wrote the four-opera cycle 'The Ring of the Nibelung'?
Answer : Richard Wagner
Richard Wagner composed the four-opera cycle 'The Ring of the Nibelung' (Der Ring des Nibelungen).
Which British progressive rock band of the 1970s is known for the concept album 'The Wall'?
Answer : Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd is known for the concept album 'The Wall', released in 1979.
Which American jazz singer, nicknamed 'Lady Day', is famous for her performance of 'Strange Fruit'?
Answer : Billie Holiday
Billie Holiday, nicknamed 'Lady Day', is famous for her poignant performance of 'Strange Fruit'.
Which 20th-century Hungarian composer drew heavily on Eastern European folk music for inspiration?
Answer : Béla Bartók
Béla Bartók, a Hungarian composer, drew heavily on Eastern European folk music for inspiration.
Expert
Which early 20th-century Austrian composer theorized twelve-tone technique, a composition method without a fixed tonal center?
Answer : Arnold Schoenberg
Arnold Schoenberg theorized twelve-tone technique (or serialism) in the early 20th century.
Which 18th-century German harpsichordist and composer wrote the 'Goldberg Variations'?
Answer : Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach composed the 'Goldberg Variations', a major work for harpsichord.
Which French Romani jazz guitarist, missing the use of two fingers, is famous for his virtuosity despite this disability?
Answer : Django Reinhardt
Django Reinhardt, a Romani guitarist, developed a virtuoso technique despite the partial loss of two fingers after an accident.
Which 20th-century French composer founded musique concrète, using recorded and manipulated sounds?
Answer : Pierre Schaeffer
Pierre Schaeffer is considered the founder of musique concrète, using recorded and manipulated sounds.
Which American jazz pianist and composer, who died in 1982, composed 'Round Midnight' and was a key figure in bebop?
Answer : Thelonious Monk
Thelonious Monk, a jazz pianist, composed 'Round Midnight' and was a major figure in bebop.
Which Soviet composer, often at odds with the Stalinist regime, wrote the 'Leningrad' Symphony during the siege of the city?
Answer : Dmitri Shostakovich
Dmitri Shostakovich composed his Seventh Symphony, known as 'Leningrad', during the siege of the city in 1941-1942.
Which French theorist and composer developed the concept of integral serialism after World War II?
Answer : Pierre Boulez
Pierre Boulez developed the concept of integral serialism, extending twelve-tone principles to other musical parameters.
Which 20th-century French Catholic composer incorporated transcribed birdsong into his works, notably in 'Catalogue d'oiseaux'?
Answer : Olivier Messiaen
Olivier Messiaen incorporated transcribed birdsong into several works, including 'Catalogue d'oiseaux'.