Pianomania Quiz: Trivia Questions!

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| By Nicolette Wong
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Nicolette Wong
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Quizzes Created: 2 | Total Attempts: 5,116
| Attempts: 1,671
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  • 1/20 Questions

    The name 'piano' is actually a short form of the word 'pianoforte'.  The instrument was named this because it was capable of producing:

    • ...contrasting articulation.
    • ... contrasting dynamics.
    • ... contrasting timbres.
    • ... such a large range of pitches.
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About This Quiz


Have you ever heard of Pianomania? Pianomania is a 2010 German-Australian Documentary/Musical. A man named Stefan, a piano tuner from the piano company Steinway & Sons, and his famous clients search for the perfect pitch. In the film, Bach’s The Art of Fugue is set up to be recorded. The movie begins one year from the recording. This entertaining quiz will play a key role in helping you understand Pianomania.

Pianomania Quiz: Trivia Questions! - Quiz

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  • 2. 

    Grand pianos usually have three pedals: sustaining pedal on the right, sostenuto pedal in the middle, and which one on the left?

    • Janissary pedal

    • Una corda pedal

    • Crescendo pedal

    • Accelerando pedal

    Correct Answer
    A. Una corda pedal
    Explanation
    The correct answer is Una corda pedal. Grand pianos typically have three pedals, and the una corda pedal is the one located on the left. This pedal is also known as the soft pedal and is used to create a softer and more muted sound by shifting the position of the hammers.

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  • 3. 

    The Canadian pianist Glenn Gould was most known for interpreting the works of which composer?

    • J.S. Bach

    • Beethoven

    • Schumann

    • Prokofiev

    Correct Answer
    A. J.S. Bach
    Explanation
    Glenn Gould was most known for interpreting the works of J.S. Bach. He was renowned for his unique and highly acclaimed interpretations of Bach's compositions, particularly his recordings of the Goldberg Variations. Gould's meticulous attention to detail and his ability to bring out the intricate nuances of Bach's music made him one of the greatest interpreters of Bach's works in the 20th century.

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  • 4. 

    The piano is a stringed musical instrument and belongs to the string family. 

    • True

    • False

    Correct Answer
    A. False
    Explanation
    The given statement is false because the piano is not a stringed musical instrument. It is actually a percussion instrument. Although it has strings inside, the sound is produced by striking the keys, which then activate hammers that hit the strings. Therefore, the piano does not belong to the string family of instruments.

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  • 5. 

    Which piano manufacturer added extra keys to the instrument upon Busoni's suggestion, because he needed more notes for his transcriptions of J.S. Bach's organ works?

    • Yamaha

    • Kawai

    • Steinway

    • Bösendorfer

    Correct Answer
    A. Bösendorfer
    Explanation
    Bösendorfer is the correct answer because upon Busoni's suggestion, they added extra keys to their pianos. This was because Busoni needed more notes for his transcriptions of J.S. Bach's organ works.

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  • 6. 

    These are all pianists except...

    • Martha Argerich

    • Maria João Pires

    • Anne-Sophie Mutter

    • Mitsuko Uchida

    Correct Answer
    A. Anne-Sophie Mutter
    Explanation
    Anne-Sophie Mutter is not a pianist. The other three options, Martha Argerich, Maria João Pires, and Mitsuko Uchida, are all well-known pianists.

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  • 7. 

    Which of the following composers did not write a composition for piano or piano and orchestra based on Paganini's Caprice No.24 in A minor?

    • Brahms

    • Liszt

    • Rachmaninov

    • Tchaikovsky

    Correct Answer
    A. Tchaikovsky
    Explanation
    Tchaikovsky did not write a composition for piano or piano and orchestra based on Paganini's Caprice No. 24 in A minor. Brahms, Liszt, and Rachmaninov all wrote compositions based on this piece.

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  • 8. 

    At present, some manufacturers still make piano keys using ivory. 

    • True

    • False

    Correct Answer
    A. False
    Explanation
    The statement is false because the use of ivory in piano keys is illegal in many countries due to concerns about animal conservation and ethical issues. Most manufacturers now use synthetic materials or alternatives like plastic or wood to make piano keys.

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  • 9. 

    Why did Ravel write his Piano Concerto for the Left Hand, composed at the same time as his Piano Concerto in G major?

    • It was commissioned by a pianist who lost his right arm in the First World War.

    • Ravel wanted to write three piano concertos - one for both hands, one for the right hand, and one for the left hand; but he never completed the concerto for the right hand.

    • Ravel was inspired by Czerny's 24 studies for the left hand titled 'Ecole de la main gauche'.

    • Ravel wrote it for his pianist friend who was born without a right hand.

    Correct Answer
    A. It was commissioned by a pianist who lost his right arm in the First World War.
    Explanation
    Ravel wrote his Piano Concerto for the Left Hand because it was commissioned by a pianist who lost his right arm in the First World War.

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  • 10. 

    Lang Lang used what kind of fruit to play for fun the Etude Op.10/5 by Chopin, also known as the 'Black Key Study'?

    • Tangerine

    • Watermelon

    • Orange

    • Durian

    Correct Answer
    A. Orange
    Explanation
    Lang Lang used an orange to play for fun the Etude Op.10/5 by Chopin, also known as the 'Black Key Study'.

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  • 11. 

    Which composer did not write a concerto for two pianos and orchestra?

    • Mozart

    • Beethoven

    • Poulenc

    • Lennox Berkeley

    Correct Answer
    A. Beethoven
    Explanation
    Beethoven is the correct answer because he did not write a concerto for two pianos and orchestra. While Mozart, Poulenc, and Lennox Berkeley all composed concertos for two pianos and orchestra, Beethoven focused more on symphonies, piano sonatas, and other instrumental works, but did not venture into the realm of two-piano concertos.

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  • 12. 

    Which composer dedicated two of his piano works to Baroness Charlotte de Rothschild of the French banking family?

    • W.A. Mozart

    • Frédéric Chopin

    • Claude Debussy

    • Sergei Prokofiev

    Correct Answer
    A. Frédéric Chopin
    Explanation
    Frédéric Chopin dedicated two of his piano works to Baroness Charlotte de Rothschild of the French banking family. Chopin had a close relationship with the Rothschild family, and he dedicated his Nocturne in C-sharp minor, Op. posth. and his Ballade No. 2 in F major, Op. 38 to the Baroness as a gesture of appreciation and friendship. These compositions showcase Chopin's signature lyrical and expressive style, and they remain beloved pieces in the piano repertoire.

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  • 13. 

    Which pianist performed in public for eight decades and gave his last concert at London's Wigmore Hall in 1976, at age 89?

    • Daniel Barenboim

    • Vladimir Horowitz

    • Artur Rubinstein

    • Emil Gilels

    Correct Answer
    A. Artur Rubinstein
    Explanation
    Artur Rubinstein is the correct answer because he performed in public for eight decades and gave his last concert at London's Wigmore Hall in 1976, at age 89.

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  • 14. 

    Which composer included a movement titled 'Pianists' in one of their works, intending to portray pianists - beginners perhaps - practicing scales over and over again?

    • Mozart

    • Chopin

    • Saint-Saëns

    • Britten

    Correct Answer
    A. Saint-Saëns
    Explanation
    Saint-Saëns included a movement titled 'Pianists' in one of their works to portray pianists, possibly beginners, practicing scales repetitively.

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  • 15. 

    Brahms' Hungarian Dances have been transcribed for many different instruments, but what were they originally written for?

    • Solo piano

    • One piano, four hands

    • String orchestra

    • Symphony orchestra

    Correct Answer
    A. One piano, four hands
    Explanation
    Brahms' Hungarian Dances were originally written for one piano, four hands. This means that two people would play the piano together, with one person playing the lower part of the piano and the other person playing the upper part. The dances were later transcribed for many different instruments, but their original arrangement was for this specific piano duet.

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  • 16. 

    Which pianist and composer wrote a set of 53 arrangements of Chopin's Etudes, making them even more difficult than the original?

    • Leopold Godowsky

    • Franz Liszt

    • Marc-André Hamelin

    • Ferruccio Busoni

    Correct Answer
    A. Leopold Godowsky
    Explanation
    Leopold Godowsky is the correct answer because he wrote a set of 53 arrangements of Chopin's Etudes, which were known for being even more difficult than the original pieces.

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  • 17. 

    The world's most expensive piano, worth US3.2million, is made from what material?

    • Borosilicate glass

    • Crystal

    • Gold

    • Titanium

    Correct Answer
    A. Crystal
    Explanation
    The correct answer is crystal. Crystal is a material known for its clarity and brilliance, making it a popular choice for high-end and luxury items. The world's most expensive piano, worth $3.2 million, is made from crystal, showcasing its exquisite craftsmanship and unique design. Crystal is not only aesthetically pleasing but also durable, making it a suitable material for creating intricate musical instruments like pianos. Its high value is attributed to the rarity and quality of the crystal used, as well as the skilled craftsmanship involved in its creation.

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  • 18. 

    A contemporary of Liszt, which virtuoso pianist was described by Chopin as someone who pleases the ladies and produces his piano and forte with the pedal rather than the hand?

    • Johann Nepomuk Hummel

    • Muzio Clementi

    • Sigismond Thalberg

    • Franz Schubert

    Correct Answer
    A. Sigismond Thalberg
    Explanation
    Sigismond Thalberg is the correct answer because he was a virtuoso pianist who was a contemporary of Liszt. Chopin described him as someone who pleases the ladies, suggesting that he had a charismatic and appealing personality. Additionally, the statement that Thalberg produces his piano and forte with the pedal rather than the hand implies that he had a unique and distinctive playing style.

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  • 19. 

    Which pianist was so admired for his expressiveness and intelligence in his playing that the critic Harold Schoenberg said of his mistakes, "One accepted them, as one accepts scars or defects in paintings by an old master"?

    • Dinu Lipatti

    • Alfred Cortot

    • Evgeny Kissin

    • Claudio Arrau

    Correct Answer
    A. Alfred Cortot
    Explanation
    Alfred Cortot was a pianist who was highly regarded for his expressiveness and intelligence in his playing. The critic Harold Schoenberg compared Cortot's mistakes to scars or defects in paintings by an old master, implying that even his mistakes were seen as part of his artistic expression and were accepted by the audience. This suggests that Cortot's playing was so exceptional that any imperfections were overshadowed by his overall mastery and artistic brilliance.

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  • 20. 

    What aspects of the harpsichord, the predecessor of the piano, is different from the piano? 

    • The shape of the instrument.

    • The number of keyboards.

    • The way the sound is produced.

    • The layout of the keys on the keyboard.

    Correct Answer(s)
    A. The number of keyboards.
    A. The way the sound is produced.
    Explanation
    The harpsichord and the piano differ in terms of the number of keyboards and the way the sound is produced. Unlike the piano, which typically has one keyboard, the harpsichord can have multiple keyboards. Additionally, the harpsichord produces sound by plucking the strings with quills, while the piano produces sound by striking the strings with hammers.

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Quiz Review Timeline (Updated): Mar 21, 2023 +

Our quizzes are rigorously reviewed, monitored and continuously updated by our expert board to maintain accuracy, relevance, and timeliness.

  • Current Version
  • Mar 21, 2023
    Quiz Edited by
    ProProfs Editorial Team
  • May 15, 2020
    Quiz Created by
    Nicolette Wong
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