Classical Music Trivia

Classical Music trivia invites you into a tradition that stretches from the Baroque and Classical eras through the Romantic period and beyond. Expect factual, family-friendly questions that range from recognizable melodies and famous composers to deeper cuts about musical forms, premieres, and performance history.

Easy Classical Music Trivia

13 questions

These easy Classical Music trivia questions are great for beginners and kids around age 12 and under.

Question 1
Which composer was born in Bonn in 1770?
Answer: Ludwig van Beethoven
Beethoven was born in Bonn in 1770.
Question 2
Salzburg was the birthplace of which composer in 1756?
Answer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Mozart was born in Salzburg in 1756.
Question 3
Who served in Leipzig as Thomaskantor?
Answer: Johann Sebastian Bach
Bach worked in Leipzig is Thomaskantor.
Question 4
"The Four Seasons" was composed by whom?
Answer: Antonio Vivaldi
Antonio Vivaldi composed "The Four Seasons.".
Question 5
Who wrote the waltz commonly known as "The Blue Danube"?
Answer: Johann Strauss II
"The Blue Danube" was composed by Johann Strauss II.
Question 6
Which composer created the opera "The Barber of Seville"?
Answer: Gioachino Rossini
Rossini composed "The Barber of Seville.".
Question 7
Who composed the opera "La Bohème"?
Answer: Giacomo Puccini
"La Bohème" is by Giacomo Puccini.
Question 8
Which famous Italian composer is especially known for opera: Giuseppe Verdi or Claude Debussy?
1. A.Verdi
2. B.Claude Debussy
3. C.Edvard Grieg
4. D.Antonín Dvořák
Answer: Giuseppe Verdi
Giuseppe Verdi was an Italian composer famous for opera.
Question 9
Who wrote Symphony No. 9, subtitled "From the New World"?
Answer: Antonín Dvořák
Antonín Dvořák composed Symphony No. 9 "From the New World.".
Question 10
Music for Henrik Ibsen's "Peer Gynt" was written by which composer?
Answer: Edvard Grieg
Edvard Grieg wrote music for "Peer Gynt.".
Question 11
Who composed "The Carnival of the Animals"?
Answer: Camille Saint-Saëns
"The Carnival of the Animals" was composed by Camille Saint-Saëns.
Question 12
The "Unfinished Symphony" is by which composer?
Answer: Franz Schubert
Franz Schubert wrote the "Unfinished Symphony.".
Question 13
Which composer was born near Warsaw in Poland?
Answer: Frédéric Chopin
Frédéric Chopin was born near Warsaw in Poland.

Classical Music Family Trivia

12 questions

These family Classical Music trivia questions are built for mixed-age game nights, classrooms, and groups.

Question 1
Who is often nicknamed the "Father of the Symphony"?
Answer: Joseph Haydn
Joseph Haydn is often called the "Father of the Symphony.".
Question 2
Which composer created the lively "Hungarian Dances"?
Answer: Johannes Brahms
Johannes Brahms composed the "Hungarian Dances.".
Question 3
The famous "Wedding March" was composed by whom?
Answer: Felix Mendelssohn
Felix Mendelssohn composed the "Wedding March.".
Question 4
"Water Music" is a work by which composer?
Answer: George Frideric Handel
George Frideric Handel composed "Water Music.".
Question 5
Who composed "Carmina Burana"?
Answer: Carl Orff
Carl Orff composed "Carmina Burana.".
Question 6
Before it was widely known in orchestral form, "Pictures at an Exhibition" was originally written for what?
Answer: solo piano
Mussorgsky originally wrote "Pictures at an Exhibition" for solo piano.
Question 7
Which composer wrote the ballet "The Nutcracker"?
Answer: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Tchaikovsky composed "The Nutcracker.".
Question 8
Which composer is closely linked with musical Impressionism?
Answer: Claude Debussy
Claude Debussy is closely associated with musical Impressionism.
Question 9
What opera house did Richard Wagner design for his own operas?
Answer: Bayreuth Festspielhaus
Wagner designed the Bayreuth Festspielhaus for his operas.
Question 10
Which American orchestra was founded in 1842?
Answer: New York Philharmonic
The New York Philharmonic was founded in 1842.
Question 11
Founded in 1881, which orchestra fits that date?
Answer: Boston Symphony Orchestra
The Boston Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1881.
Question 12
In which city is the opera house Teatro La Fenice found?
Answer: Venice
Teatro La Fenice is in Venice.

Fun Classical Music Trivia

13 questions

These fun Classical Music trivia questions highlight surprising moments and playful facts for game-night groups.

Question 1
What tiny musical idea kicks off Beethoven's Symphony No. 5?
Answer: a four-note motif
Beethoven's Fifth opens with a famous four-note motif.
Question 2
Which work is famous for using cannon fire in performance?
Answer: 1812 Overture
Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture" famously includes cannon fire in performance.
Question 3
Ravel's "Boléro" rides on the repeated pattern of which percussion instrument?
Answer: snare drum
"Boléro" is built on a repeating snare-drum rhythm.
Question 4
In Saint-Saëns' "The Swan," which solo string instrument sings the main line?
Answer: cello
"The Swan" is scored for cello and two pianos.
Question 5
The "Hallelujah" chorus appears in which Handel work?
Answer: Messiah
Handel's "Messiah" includes the "Hallelujah" chorus.
Question 6
Verdi's opera "Aida" is set in what ancient civilization?
Answer: ancient Egypt
"Aida" is set in ancient Egypt.
Question 7
What Japanese city is the setting of Puccini's "Madama Butterfly"?
Answer: Nagasaki
"Madama Butterfly" is set in Nagasaki, Japan.
Question 8
Who composed the famous Violin Concerto in D minor?
Answer: Jean Sibelius
Sibelius composed a famous Violin Concerto in D minor.
Question 9
In which city did Stravinsky's ballet "The Firebird" premiere in 1910?
Answer: Paris
"The Firebird" premiered in Paris in 1910.
Question 10
Which American composer wrote the ballet "Appalachian Spring"?
Answer: Aaron Copland
Aaron Copland composed "Appalachian Spring.".
Question 11
Bizet's opera "Carmen" takes place in which Spanish city?
Answer: Seville
"Carmen" takes place in Seville, Spain.
Question 12
In "Peter and the Wolf," which instrument represents the bird?
Answer: flute
Prokofiev assigns the bird to the flute.
Question 13
How many violin concertos make up Vivaldi's "The Four Seasons"?
Answer: four
"The Four Seasons" contains four violin concertos.

Funny Classical Music Trivia

13 questions

These funny Classical Music trivia questions highlight playful moments, odd facts, and inside jokes.

Question 1
Which symphony earns the nickname "Surprise" because of a sudden loud chord in the slow movement?
Answer: Haydn's Surprise Symphony
Haydn's "Surprise Symphony" gets its nickname from a sudden loud chord in the slow movement.
Question 2
What is the commonly used nickname of Mozart's bawdy canon mentioned in trivia books?
Answer: Leck mich im Arsch
Mozart wrote a canon commonly nicknamed "Leck mich im Arsch.".
Question 3
If someone jokingly credits Rossini with a "Cat Duet," which genuinely famous comic opera of his is the solid answer instead?
Answer: The Barber of Seville
The attribution of a "Cat Duet" is doubtful; Rossini's genuine comic hit is "The Barber of Seville.".
Question 4
What traditional title is attached to the toy-filled piece often linked, disputably, with Leopold Mozart?
Answer: Toy Symphony
Leopold Mozart is linked by long tradition with the "Toy Symphony," though the attribution is disputed.
Question 5
In Mozart's "The Magic Flute," what is the name of the bird catcher?
Answer: Papageno
Papageno is the bird catcher in "The Magic Flute.".
Question 6
Which movement from "The Carnival of the Animals" sneaks in a can-can parody at tortoise speed?
Answer: Tortoises
Saint-Saëns slipped a can-can parody into the "Tortoises" movement.
Question 7
Rossini gave the title "Catastrophe" to a piano miniature in which collection?
Answer: Péchés de vieillesse
Rossini titled one piano miniature "Catastrophe" in his collection "Péchés de vieillesse.".
Question 8
Which composer wrote "Three Pieces in the Shape of a Pear"?
Answer: Erik Satie
Erik Satie wrote piano pieces called "Three Pieces in the Shape of a Pear.".
Question 9
What is the title of Satie's piece with office-worker energy: "Bureaucratic Sonatina" or "Moonlight Sonata"?
1. A.Bureaucratic Sonatina
2. B.Moonlight Sonata
3. C.The Moldau
4. D.Boléro
Answer: Bureaucratic Sonatina
Satie wrote a piece titled "Bureaucratic Sonatina.".
Question 10
The barber at the center of "The Barber of Seville" has what name?
Answer: Figaro
The opera centers on a barber named Figaro.
Question 11
In Prokofiev's animal tale, which instrument quacks the duck part?
Answer: oboe
Prokofiev depicts a duck with the oboe in "Peter and the Wolf.".
Question 12
Which instrument imitates the cuckoo in Saint-Saëns' "Carnival of the Animals"?
Answer: clarinet
The cuckoo is imitated by clarinet notes.
Question 13
Mozart's "Ein musikalischer Spaß" wraps up with what kind of ending on purpose?
Answer: deliberately clashing parts
The piece ends with deliberately clashing parts is a musical joke.

Hard Classical Music Trivia

14 questions

These hard Classical Music trivia questions are for expert fans who want a real challenge.

Question 1
Schoenberg's "Pierrot lunaire" premiered in what year?
Answer: 1912
"Pierrot lunaire" premiered in 1912.
Question 2
Twelve-tone serialism emerged in which broad period?
Answer: the early 20th century
Twelve-tone serialism emerged in the early 20th century.
Question 3
Berg's opera "Wozzeck" premiered in which city in 1925?
Answer: Berlin
"Wozzeck" premiered in Berlin in 1925.
Question 4
What is the opus number of Webern's "Six Bagatelles for String Quartet"?
Answer: Op. 9
Webern's "Six Bagatelles for String Quartet" is Op. 9.
Question 5
Messiaen's "Quartet for the End of Time" received its premiere in what kind of place in 1941?
Answer: a German prisoner-of-war camp
The work premiered in a German prisoner-of-war camp in 1941.
Question 6
How many numbered symphonies did Mahler complete?
Answer: 9
Mahler completed 9 numbered symphonies.
Question 7
Monteverdi's "L'Orfeo" premiered in which city in 1607?
Answer: Mantua
"L'Orfeo" premiered in Mantua in 1607.
Question 8
Pergolesi completed "Stabat Mater" in what year?
Answer: 1736
Pergolesi's "Stabat Mater" was completed in 1736.
Question 9
How many concerti grossi are in Corelli's Op. 6 set?
Answer: 12
Corelli's Op. 6 set contains 12 concerti grossi.
Question 10
About how many keyboard sonatas did Domenico Scarlatti write?
Answer: more than 550
Scarlatti wrote more than 550 keyboard sonatas.
Question 11
Berlioz's "Symphonie fantastique" premiered in which city in 1830?
Answer: Paris
"Symphonie fantastique" premiered in Paris in 1830.
Question 12
Liszt's Piano Sonata in B minor is unusual because it is in how many movements?
Answer: one
Liszt's Piano Sonata in B minor is a single-movement sonata.
Question 13
Smetana's string quartet "From My Life" is in what key?
Answer: E minor
"From My Life" is in E minor.
Question 14
Janáček's "Sinfonietta" premiered in which city in 1926?
Answer: Prague
Janáček's "Sinfonietta" premiered in Prague in 1926.

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Easy Classical Music Trivia

Which composer was born in Bonn in 1770?

Salzburg was the birthplace of which composer in 1756?

Who served in Leipzig as Thomaskantor?

"The Four Seasons" was composed by whom?

Who wrote the waltz commonly known as "The Blue Danube"?

Which composer created the opera "The Barber of Seville"?

Who composed the opera "La Bohème"?

Which famous Italian composer is especially known for opera: Giuseppe Verdi or Claude Debussy?

Who wrote Symphony No. 9, subtitled "From the New World"?

Music for Henrik Ibsen's "Peer Gynt" was written by which composer?

Who composed "The Carnival of the Animals"?

The "Unfinished Symphony" is by which composer?

Which composer was born near Warsaw in Poland?

Classical Music Family Trivia

Who is often nicknamed the "Father of the Symphony"?

Which composer created the lively "Hungarian Dances"?

The famous "Wedding March" was composed by whom?

"Water Music" is a work by which composer?

Who composed "Carmina Burana"?

Before it was widely known in orchestral form, "Pictures at an Exhibition" was originally written for what?

Which composer wrote the ballet "The Nutcracker"?

Which composer is closely linked with musical Impressionism?

What opera house did Richard Wagner design for his own operas?

Which American orchestra was founded in 1842?

Founded in 1881, which orchestra fits that date?

In which city is the opera house Teatro La Fenice found?

Fun Classical Music Trivia

What tiny musical idea kicks off Beethoven's Symphony No. 5?

Which work is famous for using cannon fire in performance?

Ravel's "Boléro" rides on the repeated pattern of which percussion instrument?

In Saint-Saëns' "The Swan," which solo string instrument sings the main line?

The "Hallelujah" chorus appears in which Handel work?

Verdi's opera "Aida" is set in what ancient civilization?

What Japanese city is the setting of Puccini's "Madama Butterfly"?

Who composed the famous Violin Concerto in D minor?

In which city did Stravinsky's ballet "The Firebird" premiere in 1910?

Which American composer wrote the ballet "Appalachian Spring"?

Bizet's opera "Carmen" takes place in which Spanish city?

In "Peter and the Wolf," which instrument represents the bird?

How many violin concertos make up Vivaldi's "The Four Seasons"?

Funny Classical Music Trivia

Which symphony earns the nickname "Surprise" because of a sudden loud chord in the slow movement?

What is the commonly used nickname of Mozart's bawdy canon mentioned in trivia books?

If someone jokingly credits Rossini with a "Cat Duet," which genuinely famous comic opera of his is the solid answer instead?

What traditional title is attached to the toy-filled piece often linked, disputably, with Leopold Mozart?

In Mozart's "The Magic Flute," what is the name of the bird catcher?

Which movement from "The Carnival of the Animals" sneaks in a can-can parody at tortoise speed?

Rossini gave the title "Catastrophe" to a piano miniature in which collection?

Which composer wrote "Three Pieces in the Shape of a Pear"?

What is the title of Satie's piece with office-worker energy: "Bureaucratic Sonatina" or "Moonlight Sonata"?

The barber at the center of "The Barber of Seville" has what name?

In Prokofiev's animal tale, which instrument quacks the duck part?

Which instrument imitates the cuckoo in Saint-Saëns' "Carnival of the Animals"?

Mozart's "Ein musikalischer Spaß" wraps up with what kind of ending on purpose?

Hard Classical Music Trivia

Schoenberg's "Pierrot lunaire" premiered in what year?

Twelve-tone serialism emerged in which broad period?

Berg's opera "Wozzeck" premiered in which city in 1925?

What is the opus number of Webern's "Six Bagatelles for String Quartet"?

Messiaen's "Quartet for the End of Time" received its premiere in what kind of place in 1941?

How many numbered symphonies did Mahler complete?

Monteverdi's "L'Orfeo" premiered in which city in 1607?

Pergolesi completed "Stabat Mater" in what year?

How many concerti grossi are in Corelli's Op. 6 set?

About how many keyboard sonatas did Domenico Scarlatti write?

Berlioz's "Symphonie fantastique" premiered in which city in 1830?

Liszt's Piano Sonata in B minor is unusual because it is in how many movements?

Smetana's string quartet "From My Life" is in what key?

Janáček's "Sinfonietta" premiered in which city in 1926?

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