Twentieth Century Test Review
Be sure you know all the terms from your vocabulary sheets.
1. How large was the orchestra for Rite of Spring? Ninety Nine Players
2. What was Starvinsky’s compositional goal for Rite of Spring? To demonstrate craftsmanship and
formal clarity
3. How were the movements organized in Rite of Spring? As separate but interconnected parts
4. How was choreography impacted by Rite of Spring? Huge influence of younger choreographers
of the time – groundbreaking.
5. What is the main event that takes place in Rite of Spring? A sacrificial dance
6. How did Stravinsky feel about twelve tone compositions? Early in life he was opposed to them
but later he began to accept and compose using atonal techniques.
7. How was the Rite of Spring originally intended to be performed? As a multimedia event
8. When did the audience protest the Rite of Spring? The Introduction
9. What movie was Rite of Spring famously used in? Disney’s Fantasia
10. What technique was developed by Alan Berg and his contemporaries? Twelve tone system
What musical idea did this use? The equality of all twelve chromatic pitches
11. What composer created the twelve tone system? Arnold Schoenberg
12. Who was in the First Viennese school of composers? Mozart, Beethoven, Haydn
13. Who was in the second Viennese school of composers? Schoenberg, Berg, Webern
14. Why did Berg stop work of Wozzeck in 1915? He was drafted into WWI
15. What type of orchestra was needed for Wozzeck? Very large with extra players
16. What traditional style did Berg include in Wozzeck? A military march
17. What nineteenth century composer did Berg model by blurring the lines of operatic writing?
Richard Wagner
18. What is the dissonant interval composers use to create a conflicted sound? tritone
19. What was the audience reaction to Wozzeck? Critics? Audiences generally did not enjoy it –
some critics thought they had witnessed something significant but others criticized the music.
20. Which composer does Berg play homage to by using “interventions”? JS Bach
21. How did Berg die? Infection from a bug bite
22. How does Wozzeck die in the opera? He drowns
23. Did Berg think his audience needed to be familiar with modern musical techniques to
understand his work? Why or why not? No – he was more concerned with getting the feelings
and story across, not the musical techniques
24. Where was the premiere of Messiaen’s Quartet for the End of Time? In a German prison camp –
Stalag VIIIA
25. What faith was Messiaen a part of? Catholicism
26. What instrument did Messiaen play? Organ
27. What were the prisoners of Stalag VIIIA required to do? Forced labor
28. How was this different for the musicians? They were given permission to write, rehearse, and
perform music.
29. What enabled rehearsals to begin for the Quartet? Arrival of a piano
30. What was Messiaens hobby that became part of his music? Listening to birdsongs
31. Was the audience at StalagIIIA familiar with 20th century music? No
32. What pieces did Messiaen compose that became part of the quartet? What instruments were
they originally for? Abyss of the Birds – Originally Written for Solo Clarinet, Praise to the
Eternity of Jesus – Originally Written for electronic instruments.
33. What challenges for the musicians were in the Quartet? Extremely low notes, very slow
passages, extreme dynamics
34. Why is West Side Story such a groundbreaking musical? Used dance as part of the story,
elements of tragedy with the show, it addressed current themes and problems, it used
popular musical types of the time.
35. Do Broadway Musicals use the same vocal techniques as opera? What are the differences
between opera and musicals? No – different vocal technique – no aria, recicitatives, spoke
words are used.
36. What event made West Side Story a huge hit? The movie
37. What Shakespeare play is West Side Story based on? How is the ending changed? Romeo and
Juliet – only one main character dies – Maria lives and Tony dies
38. What Orchestra did Leonard Bernstein conduct? New York Philharmonic How did he try to
bring new audiences to classical music? Young People’s Concert Series
39. Name the collaborators for West Side Story:
Book Arthur Laurents
Composer Leonard Bernstein
Choreographer Jerome Robbins
Lyricist Stephen Soundheim
40. What song mirrors the balcony scene in Romeo and Juliet? - Tonight
41. Name 4 Musicals Stephen Soundheim wrote: Company, Sunday in the Park With George, Into
the Woods, A Little Night Music, Sweeney Todd
42. Name the gangs and who they represent in West Side Story Jets – Americans, Sharks – Puerto
Ricans
43. Name some of the styles represented in West Side Story Latin, Blues, Rock n Roll, Classical
44. What is a person called who can “fix” the problems in a show? Show doctor