Friday, December 11, 2009

Sunday Classics preview: Yes, it's another "Guess the Composer" quiz

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by Ken

We've done this before, so you know the drill.

1. Piano version



2. Orchestral version



Once again we've got a piano version, and this time an orchestral version. So we need to know:

* Which is the original version? (Watch out, this could be a trick!)

* Who composed it?

* Who made the arrangement?

* Bonus points if you can identify the performers, or at least the pianist.

There will probably be some sort of prize. Apparently the quest for knowledge and the approval of one's peers don't count for much anymore.
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posted by KenInNY @ 9:00 PM
6 comments  |  Reddit

6 Comments:

At 9:34 PM, Blogger ohnooooo! said...

MY guess...Stravinsky playing Stravinsky. It is originally a piano piece. Orchestrated by ummm...gotta think about that one.
yeah, mimi guessing again!
(gonna ping my composer friend Ian on this tho...he knows his pianists and composers better than me!)

 
At 9:42 PM, Blogger Randy G said...

Could be Stravinsky. Maybe Bartok.

 
At 6:26 AM, Anonymous Frank Wilhoit said...

I'm all in favor of drop-the-needle tests, but IMHO it would be a little more interesting if the links to the audio files did not contain the composer and title of the piece. Just sayin'.

 
At 7:09 AM, Blogger ohnooooo! said...

Now that I listen to it again, probably Bartok...
Frank, how do you find that?
M

 
At 2:43 PM, Blogger KenInNY said...

Frank, there is deep wisdom in wht you say. I just ask you to remember that you're dealing with a technical primitive here. I didn't realize there was a way for you to access the files!

Come to think of it, when I did the quiz with the wonderful little Dvorak waltz, I did give the files names like "mystery waltz piano." But even then I think the underlying audio files had the information imported from the CDs.

Well, back to the drawing board!

Anyway, since I'm away from home, I'm going to repost the audio files with full identification at 9pm PT. I don't know if I'll have a chance to check in again before then.

Cheers to all,
Ken

 
At 5:41 PM, Anonymous Balakirev said...

This one I know: the Hungarian Sketches (or Pictures; either applies) of Bartok. I'm pretty sure the piano version came first, though if you want to be technical about it, the folk version was the first, and Bartok's the second. But I don't think you're playing games with this, so--the piano version was first, orchestral second.

I'm pretty certain Bartok did both the piano and orchestral versions of it. I've no idea which version it is, however. Great stuff, in any case, and I hope you do an essay on Kodaly's superb music, too, sometime.

 

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