MiM quiz – Explorer level / Education

Remember, this quiz is not about testing your knowledge about contemporary music. It's all about getting to know the four composers - their music, techniques, but also inspirations and private stories. We invite you to take on this challenge - discover the universe of four personalities and dive in into their music.

 

 

Chamber music - which of the four composers wrote this musical piece?

Listen to the short exceprt and recognise the composer.

The example comes from Louis Andriessen Zilver.

The example comes from Kazimierz Serocki Swinging Music.

The example comes from Arvo PärtEs sang vor langen Jahren.

The example comes from Pierre BoulezLe marteau sans maître.

To which one of the four composers can the following quotes be attributed:

More and more I find that in order to create effectively one has to consider delirium and, yes, organize it.

Not all of the quotations can be found on the MiM website, but the personalities and interests of the Composers clearly suggest the right answers.

Answer: Pierre Boulez

[I wrote my piece] as a contribution to the debate about the relation of music to politics.

Not all of the quotations can be found on the MiM website, but the personalities and interests of the Composers clearly suggest the right answers.

Answer: Louis Andriessen

“What can one say about oneself? Not much, in my opinion, and besides it always seems to me a bit pretentious.”

Not all of the quotations can be found on the MiM website, but the personalities and interests of the Composers clearly suggest the right answers

Answer: Kazimierz Serocki

I have discovered that it is enough when a single note is beautifully played. This one note, or a silent beat, or a moment of silence, comforts me …

Not all of the quotations can be found on the MiM website, but the personalities and interests of the Composers clearly suggest the right answers.

Answer: Arvo Pärt

 

Links with popular music (apart from works for children) – which of the four composers:

Although he is appreciated by many artists associated with popular music, he never himself wrote such music.
Wrote mass songs?

In the Stalinist period many Polish composers, including Kazimierz Serocki, expanded the mass song repertoire.

Worked with Frank Zappa?

In 1984 Pierre Boulez, conducting Ensemble Intercontemporain, made a recording of Frank Zappa’s songs featuring Frank Zappa (Perfect Stranger).

Arranged the Beatles’ songs?

The Beatles’ songs arranged by Louis Andriessen include Michelle, Yesterday and Ticket to Ride.

Which of the composers is associated with the concept of tintinnabuli?

Arvo Pärt invented his personal musical language in 1976 after discarding all modernist tools and studing early polyphony and Gregorian chant for many years. He named it tintinnabuli – from Latin tintinnabulum meaning ’little bell’. 

Read more about tintinnabuli.

Orchestral music - who composed this musical piece?

Listen to the short excerpt and  recognize the composer.

Instrumental color scheme also plays a major role in Pli selon pli composed by Pierre Boulez, but this piece sounds quite different from Serocki’s music. Boulez saw the precise pitch as equally important as harmony arrangements.

In Ad libitum the nature of the music resembles that of colour fantasia, like in many of Krzysztof Serocki’s works.

A vivid, though by no means simple rhythm, sound of the orchestra favouring the brass rather than the strings suggest Louis Andriessen – the example is taken from his Mysterien.

Consonant chords, melody and harmony bringing to mind Renaissance music in Arvo Pärt’s 3. Symphony are characteristics of many of his works.

Vocal music - who composed this musical piece?

Listen to the short excerpt and  recognize the composer.

The example comes from Pierre BoulezPli selon pli.

The example comes from Louis Andriessen La passione.

The example comes from Arvo PärtKanon pokajanen.

The example comes from Kazimierz Serocki Poesies.

Well done!

We hope you enjoyed the experience! 

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