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Music: Middle School: Grades 6, 7 and 8 Quiz - Ludwig van Beethoven (Questions)

This Music quiz is called 'Ludwig van Beethoven' and it has been written by teachers to help you if you are studying the subject at middle school. Playing educational quizzes is a fabulous way to learn if you are in the 6th, 7th or 8th grade - aged 11 to 14.

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By all accounts Beethoven was a giant of Western classical music, overshadowed perhaps only by Bach. He is still one of the most famous and inspiring composers of all time.

Did you know that the third-largest crater on the planet Mercury is named after Beethoven? There have also been many films made about him and his music.

1. One of the most remarkable facts about Beethoven's life is that he spent his last 25 years or so with a major, and relevant, disability. What was this?
[ ] He went deaf
[ ] He lost the use of his right hand
[ ] He went blind
[ ] He suffered from fainting fits and lapses of memory
2. How many symphonies did he write, altogether?
[ ] 5
[ ] 6
[ ] 9
[ ] 10
3. At least in the early days of the symphony as an art-form, how many movements ( = separate sections or pieces) would one symphony contain?
[ ] Two
[ ] Three
[ ] Four
[ ] Five
4. The German national anthem (as it now is) was composed by Beethoven's colleague Haydn, but a piece by Beethoven has now been adopted as the European Anthem. From which of Beethoven's larger works does this piece come?
[ ] The Fifth Symphony
[ ] The Ninth Symphony
[ ] One of his operas
[ ] The Requiem Mass
5. Beethoven played a vital part in the development of many forms of music. Which of the following was NOT a field in which he was musically active?
[ ] The piano sonata
[ ] Brass bands
[ ] The string quartet
[ ] Symphonies
6. There is one Beethoven piece that almost all learners of the classical piano try to play. It is dedicated to a woman (nobody quite seems to know exactly who she was), and its simple title is 'Fuer ~' (i.e., 'for') ... (what was her name?)
[ ] Suzanne
[ ] Maria
[ ] Elise
[ ] Grethe
7. We think of Beethoven as 'German' (born in Bonn, after all; but there 'wasn't a Germany' yet, as we know it, back then), but he did most of his work in another German-speaking city: which one?
[ ] Vienna
[ ] Venice
[ ] Berlin
[ ] Leipzig
8. Many of these famous composers began their active learning and making of music at astonishingly young ages (some of them, of course, hadn't long to live, so an early start may have been no bad thing!). Which of these age data are believed to be correct for Beethoven?
[ ] First public piano performance aged 7; first published composition aged 13
[ ] First public piano performance aged 6; first published composition aged 11
[ ] First public piano performance aged 8; first published composition aged 14
[ ] First public piano performance aged 5; first published composition aged 12
9. As with many composers, several of Beethoven's greatest works were given titles or nicknames. Which ONE of these classical descriptive pieces was his work?
[ ] The Moonlight Sonata
[ ] Clair de Lune
[ ] The Raindrop Prelude
[ ] Butterflies in the Rain
10. Dramatic to the last, Beethoven died at the height of a thunderstorm and was buried with great honor. One of the close supporters at his funeral was another, younger composer who would die and be buried beside him the following year. Who was he?
[ ] Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
[ ] Franz Schubert
[ ] 'Papa' Jozef Haydn
[ ] Christoph von Gluck
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Music: Middle School: Grades 6, 7 and 8 Quiz - Ludwig van Beethoven (Answers)
1. One of the most remarkable facts about Beethoven's life is that he spent his last 25 years or so with a major, and relevant, disability. What was this?
[x] He went deaf
[ ] He lost the use of his right hand
[ ] He went blind
[ ] He suffered from fainting fits and lapses of memory
Beethoven lived from 1770 to 1827 and lost his hearing around 'halfway' in 1800. He continued to pound away at his piano and to compose music that he would never hear. He did not know the audience was applauding his final symphony (1824) until he turned round and could see them clapping.
2. How many symphonies did he write, altogether?
[ ] 5
[ ] 6
[x] 9
[ ] 10
It is strange how many great composers ended up writing this many, no more nor less.
3. At least in the early days of the symphony as an art-form, how many movements ( = separate sections or pieces) would one symphony contain?
[ ] Two
[ ] Three
[x] Four
[ ] Five
There would be a fairly fast or serious movement to begin with, another to end with; and in between, a 'slow movement' followed either by a minuet (a dance in triple-time) or a scherzo (a quick, usually more light-hearted movement).
4. The German national anthem (as it now is) was composed by Beethoven's colleague Haydn, but a piece by Beethoven has now been adopted as the European Anthem. From which of Beethoven's larger works does this piece come?
[ ] The Fifth Symphony
[x] The Ninth Symphony
[ ] One of his operas
[ ] The Requiem Mass
It is a fine, joyous, stirring piece for orchestra and singers.
5. Beethoven played a vital part in the development of many forms of music. Which of the following was NOT a field in which he was musically active?
[ ] The piano sonata
[x] Brass bands
[ ] The string quartet
[ ] Symphonies
There are many classic examples in all the other genres.
6. There is one Beethoven piece that almost all learners of the classical piano try to play. It is dedicated to a woman (nobody quite seems to know exactly who she was), and its simple title is 'Fuer ~' (i.e., 'for') ... (what was her name?)
[ ] Suzanne
[ ] Maria
[x] Elise
[ ] Grethe
The chances are that you would recognize Fuer Elise from its first four or five notes! (Try it!)
7. We think of Beethoven as 'German' (born in Bonn, after all; but there 'wasn't a Germany' yet, as we know it, back then), but he did most of his work in another German-speaking city: which one?
[x] Vienna
[ ] Venice
[ ] Berlin
[ ] Leipzig
Vienna seemed almost to be the center of the musical universe about 200 years ago.
8. Many of these famous composers began their active learning and making of music at astonishingly young ages (some of them, of course, hadn't long to live, so an early start may have been no bad thing!). Which of these age data are believed to be correct for Beethoven?
[x] First public piano performance aged 7; first published composition aged 13
[ ] First public piano performance aged 6; first published composition aged 11
[ ] First public piano performance aged 8; first published composition aged 14
[ ] First public piano performance aged 5; first published composition aged 12
If you are in middle school you had better look to your own laurels!
9. As with many composers, several of Beethoven's greatest works were given titles or nicknames. Which ONE of these classical descriptive pieces was his work?
[x] The Moonlight Sonata
[ ] Clair de Lune
[ ] The Raindrop Prelude
[ ] Butterflies in the Rain
Another piece that fairly recent beginners like to try (they rarely get far into it!) and which you'd almost certainly recognize at once. The other answers were from more recent composers (2: Debussy; 3: Chopin).
10. Dramatic to the last, Beethoven died at the height of a thunderstorm and was buried with great honor. One of the close supporters at his funeral was another, younger composer who would die and be buried beside him the following year. Who was he?
[ ] Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
[x] Franz Schubert
[ ] 'Papa' Jozef Haydn
[ ] Christoph von Gluck
This was indeed the young Schubert.
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