General Awareness · History

Music History and Composers

3,808 Questions

Music history surveys the evolution of musical compositions, ranging from Renaissance madrigals and Baroque concertos to modern film scores. This topic covers notable composers, iconic operas, and the historical development of musical forms. It frequently appears in the general awareness and cultural sections of competitive exams.

Baroque composersRenaissance madrigalsFilm score composersClassical opera historyJazz and swing era

Music History and Composers Questions

Multiple choice

Which artist was awarded the Polar Music Prize in 2010?

  1. Pierre Boulez

  2. Daniel Barenboim

  3. Yo-Yo Ma

  4. Anne-Sophie Mutter
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Pierre Boulez was awarded the Polar Music Prize in 2010.

Multiple choice

Which artist was awarded the Polar Music Prize in 2009?

  1. Daniel Barenboim

  2. Yo-Yo Ma

  3. Anne-Sophie Mutter

  4. Pierre Boulez
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Daniel Barenboim was awarded the Polar Music Prize in 2009.

Multiple choice

Which composer is known for his work on the documentary film 'The Thin Blue Line' (1988)?

  1. Philip Glass

  2. Ennio Morricone

  3. Ryuichi Sakamoto

  4. Mark Isham
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Philip Glass composed the minimalist score for 'The Thin Blue Line', a documentary film directed by Errol Morris.

Multiple choice

Which documentary film features a score composed by Ennio Morricone?

  1. 'The Fog of War' (2003)

  2. 'March of the Penguins' (2005)

  3. 'Touching the Void' (2003)

  4. 'The Cove' (2009)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Ennio Morricone composed the score for 'The Fog of War', a documentary film directed by Errol Morris, which explores the life and career of former U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara.

Multiple choice

Which documentary film features a score composed by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross?

  1. 'The Social Network' (2010)

  2. 'Searching for Sugar Man' (2012)

  3. 'Blackfish' (2013)

  4. 'The Act of Killing' (2012)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross composed the score for 'The Social Network', a biographical drama film about the founding of Facebook.

Multiple choice

In the documentary film 'Jiro Dreams of Sushi' (2011), what type of music did composer Philip Glass incorporate into the score?

  1. Traditional Japanese Music

  2. Electronic Music

  3. Orchestral Music

  4. Ambient Music
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Philip Glass incorporated traditional Japanese music into the score for 'Jiro Dreams of Sushi', a documentary film about the life and work of sushi master Jiro Ono.

Multiple choice

Which documentary film features a score composed by Hans Zimmer?

  1. 'Planet Earth' (2006)

  2. 'Blue Planet' (2001)

  3. 'Life' (2011)

  4. 'Frozen Planet' (2011)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Hans Zimmer composed the score for 'Planet Earth', a documentary series produced by the BBC Natural History Unit.

Multiple choice

Which documentary film features a score composed by Gustavo Santaolalla?

  1. 'Brokeback Mountain' (2005)

  2. 'Babel' (2006)

  3. 'The Motorcycle Diaries' (2004)

  4. 'Amores Perros' (2000)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Gustavo Santaolalla composed the score for 'The Motorcycle Diaries', a biographical drama film about the early life of Che Guevara.

Multiple choice

Which documentary film features a score composed by Jóhann Jóhannsson?

  1. 'Arrival' (2016)

  2. 'Sicario' (2015)

  3. 'The Theory of Everything' (2014)

  4. 'Prisoners' (2013)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Jóhann Jóhannsson composed the score for 'Sicario', a crime thriller film directed by Denis Villeneuve.

Multiple choice

Which documentary film features a score composed by Ryuichi Sakamoto?

  1. 'Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence' (1983)

  2. 'The Last Emperor' (1987)

  3. 'Little Buddha' (1993)

  4. 'The Sheltering Sky' (1990)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Ryuichi Sakamoto composed the score for 'The Last Emperor', a biographical drama film about the life of Puyi, the last emperor of China.

Multiple choice

Which documentary film features a score composed by Mark Isham?

  1. 'The Fog of War' (2003)

  2. 'Touching the Void' (2003)

  3. 'The Cove' (2009)

  4. 'Blackfish' (2013)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Mark Isham composed the score for 'Blackfish', a documentary film about the captive orca Tilikum and the dangers of keeping cetaceans in captivity.

Multiple choice

12. The accordion, a versatile instrument with a rich history, was perfected by which Italian instrument maker?

  1. Cyrill Demian

  2. Paolo Soprani

  3. Guido Deiro

  4. Pietro Deiro
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Cyrill Demian, an Italian instrument maker, is widely regarded as the father of the modern accordion. His innovations in the instrument's design and construction resulted in a more reliable and expressive instrument.

Multiple choice

13. The tuba, a powerful and majestic brass instrument, was developed by which German instrument maker?

  1. Wilhelm Friedrich Wieprecht

  2. Carl Wilhelm Moritz

  3. Richard Wagner

  4. Hector Berlioz
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Wilhelm Friedrich Wieprecht, a German instrument maker, is credited with developing the tuba in the mid-19th century. His design combined elements from various brass instruments, resulting in a powerful and versatile instrument that quickly became a staple in orchestras and brass bands.

Multiple choice

15. The harp, an enchanting instrument with a long history, was brought to prominence by which Irish musician?

  1. Turlough O'Carolan

  2. Edward Bunting

  3. William Neilson

  4. Patrick Byrne
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Turlough O'Carolan, an Irish harpist and composer, is widely regarded as one of the greatest harpists of all time. His compositions and virtuosic playing popularized the harp and helped preserve Irish traditional music.

Multiple choice

In (\text{Calle 54}), which Salsa musician is known for his energetic performances and his signature song (\text{Oye Como Va})?

  1. Tito Puente

  2. Celia Cruz

  3. Eddie Palmieri

  4. Willie Colon
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Calle 54 features Tito Puente, who is renowned for his energetic performances and his iconic song Oye Como Va, which became a global hit.