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Music

Artists, albums, genres and iconic moments: test your reference points and discover the stories behind the songs.

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3 questions about Music

Question 1Which festival began as a music festival in 1987 before later adding Film and Interactive?See the answer

The answer

SXSW (South by Southwest)

SXSW began in Austin in 1987 as a music festival and conference created to give the city’s music community greater exposure. In 1994, Film and Interactive were added. Today, SXSW brings together music, film, technology, education and culture, but its origin was…

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Question 2Which Malian festival became famous for open-air concerts in the Sahara near Timbuktu?See the answer

The answer

Festival in the Desert

Founded in 2001, the Festival in the Desert was held at Essakane, near Timbuktu, showcasing Tuareg music alongside artists from around the world. The 2012 political and security crisis and the ban on music in northern Mali prevented the event from returning…

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Question 3Which jazz club opened in Greenwich Village, New York, in 1981?See the answer

The answer

The Blue Note

The Blue Note opened in 1981 in Greenwich Village, New York, on the initiative of Danny Bensusan. The club wanted to offer jazz artists an intimate place where music would remain at the center of the experience. Over time, it welcomed musicians…

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Questions to explore

Masters of Classical Music

  1. Which composer was a pioneer of impressionist music, well known for “Clair de Lune”?See the answer
  2. Who composed “The Art of Fugue,” a work left unfinished at his death?See the answer
  3. Which composer is famous for his epic operas, including “The Ring Cycle”?See the answer
  4. Who composed the Wedding March from the incidental music of A Midsummer Night’s Dream?See the answer
  5. Which composer is known for his “Years of Pilgrimage” cycle, inspired by his travels across Europe?See the answer
  6. Who composed Don Giovanni, one of the most frequently performed operas in the world?See the answer
  7. Which composer is renowned for having written over 600 Lieder, or German songs?See the answer
  8. Who composed The Well-Tempered Clavier?See the answer
  9. Which composer is famous for his symphonies, particularly the 9th Symphony “Ode to Joy”?See the answer
  10. Who composed “The Four Seasons,” a famous set of violin concertos?See the answer

Instruments of the World

  1. What is a violin commonly called when it is used to play dance tunes in traditional Irish music?See the answer
  2. Which Japanese instrument is a traditional vertical bamboo flute?See the answer
  3. Where was the modern ukulele developed after Portuguese immigrants introduced related instruments?See the answer
  4. Which musical instrument from Australia is traditionally played by Aboriginal people?See the answer
  5. What is the bowed string instrument originating from North India?See the answer
  6. Which traditional South American instrument is mainly composed of hollow tubes of different lengths?See the answer
  7. Which plucked string instrument is famous in flamenco music?See the answer
  8. From which continent did the plucked-lute ancestors of the modern banjo originate?See the answer
  9. Which African percussion instrument is played with the hands and is known for its variety of sounds?See the answer

The History of Rock n Roll

  1. Which 1967 Beatles album features A Day in the Life and a fictional-band concept?See the answer
  2. Which Beatles album features Norwegian Wood, where George Harrison plays sitar?See the answer
  3. Which San Francisco psychedelic rock group popularised White Rabbit and Somebody to Love in 1967?See the answer
  4. Which rock ‘n’ roll pioneer popularized electric guitar riffs like that of Johnny B. Goode?See the answer
  5. Who is nicknamed “The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll”?See the answer
  6. Which artist is known for having performed the American national anthem on electric guitar at the Woodstock Festival in 1969?See the answer
  7. Which band is known for popularizing the genre “heavy metal”?See the answer
  8. Who sang “Like a Rolling Stone” in 1965?See the answer

The Evolution of Hip-Hop and Rap

  1. Which American city is often considered the birthplace of hip-hop?See the answer
  2. Which rapper created the provocative alter ego named Slim Shady?See the answer
  3. In what year is the birth of hip-hop generally placed?See the answer
  4. Which Drake album, released in 2011, was a major turning point in his career, affirming his style of “singing rap”?See the answer
  5. Which of these groups is famous for incorporating elements of jazz into their hip-hop music?See the answer
  6. Who released the influential album “Illmatic” in 1994?See the answer
  7. Which hip-hop group is known for their album “Licensed to Ill”?See the answer
  8. Which album by Notorious B.I.G. was released shortly after his death in 1997?See the answer

The Hits of the 80s

  1. Which 1986 Bon Jovi song about Tommy and Gina became an anthem of 1980s rock?See the answer
  2. Who performed “With or Without You,” released in 1987?See the answer
  3. Which title track from Prince’s 1984 film and album became one of his signature power ballads?See the answer
  4. Which of these bands is not associated with the New Wave movement of the 80s?See the answer
  5. Which 1983 hit is famous for its synthetic bass line, performed by Michael Jackson and produced by Quincy Jones?See the answer
  6. Who sang “Like a Virgin” in 1984?See the answer
  7. Which band performed “Don’t Stop Believin'” in 1981?See the answer
  8. Which artist released the album Thriller in 1982?See the answer

Film Soundtracks

  1. Who composed the memorable soundtrack for the movie “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring”?See the answer
  2. In which movie does the song “Stayin’ Alive” by the Bee Gees play a central role in the soundtrack?See the answer
  3. Who composed the famous soundtrack for the movie “Psycho,” known for its terrifying shower scene?See the answer
  4. Which movie features the song “Over the Rainbow,” which won the Oscar for Best Original Song?See the answer
  5. Which 2010 Christopher Nolan film about layered dreams features Hans Zimmer’s track Time?See the answer
  6. Which 80s movie is famous for its soundtrack, including the hit “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor?See the answer
  7. Which song from “Titanic” won the Oscar for Best Original Song?See the answer
  8. Which composer is famous for the soundtrack of the movie “Jurassic Park”?See the answer

The Divas of Music

  1. Which singer is famous for her 2016 album “Lemonade”?See the answer
  2. Who sang “Rolling in the Deep”?See the answer
  3. Which artist was the first woman to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?See the answer
  4. Which artist is known for her single “Royals”?See the answer
  5. Which singer won the Grammy Award for Best Latin Pop Album for “El Dorado”?See the answer
  6. Which singer is nicknamed “The Queen of Pop”?See the answer

The Pioneers of Electro

  1. Who created the hit “Alone”?See the answer
  2. Who co-produced “Lean On” with Major Lazer?See the answer
  3. Which band created “Discovery,” an album associated with the film “Interstella 5555”?See the answer
  4. Which techno artist is known as Plastikman and for the innovative use of technology in his performances?See the answer
  5. Which DJ became a global sensation with his hit “Levels”?See the answer
  6. Who is nicknamed the “Godfather of Disco”?See the answer

Jazz and Its Legends

  1. Which Keith Jarrett album is a best-selling solo jazz record?See the answer
  2. Which Billie Holiday song denounces racism and has become a cry of protest against racial violence?See the answer
  3. What style of jazz did Louis Armstrong popularize in the 1920s?See the answer
  4. Which instrument is associated with John Coltrane?See the answer
  5. Which Miles Davis album is considered a cornerstone of modal jazz?See the answer
  6. Which saxophonist, alongside Dizzy Gillespie, helped pioneer bebop?See the answer

Emblematic Festivals

  1. Which festival transforms a greenfield site into an immersive city of music and performance for a weekend?See the answer
  2. Which festival is renowned for its magical scenography and focus on electronic music?See the answer
  3. Which festival is known for having been created by Perry Farrell as a farewell tour for his band?See the answer
  4. Which historic 1969 festival is considered the pinnacle of the 1960s counterculture?See the answer
  5. Where is the Burning Man festival traditionally held?See the answer
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