Music Trivia Questions
- What woodwind instrument has a name that means 'small' in Italian?
- What woodwind instrument is often used to play the 'tuning note' (A) for an orchestra?
- Which 1874 work by Johann Strauss II, involving a masked ball and a revenge plot, is considered the definitive Viennese operetta?
- Which 1880 orchestral work by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky is famous for its finale featuring live cannon fire and ringing church bells?
- Which 18th-century composer wrote the famous 'Brandenburg Concertos'?
- Which 1910 Igor Stravinsky ballet, based on Russian folklore, was his first major success with the Ballets Russes?
- Which 1942 ballet by Aaron Copland, choreographed by Agnes de Mille, concludes with a famous "Hoe-Down" movement?
- Which 1960s English rock band is notable for launching the careers of the three legendary guitarists Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Jimmy Page?
- Which 1966 Beatles album, known for its experimental studio techniques, followed the albums 'A Hard Day's Night', 'Beatles for Sale', 'Help!', and 'Rubber Soul'?
- Which 1970s duo featured the distinct contralto vocals of Karen Carpenter and had hits such as "(They Long to Be) Close to You"?
- Which 1970s punk band released the controversial song 'God Save the Queen'?
- Which 1970s singer-songwriter is known for his gentle baritone voice and hits such as "Fire and Rain" and his cover of Carole King's "You've Got a Friend"?
- Which 1970s UK music movement, led by bands like the Sex Pistols and The Clash, emphasized DIY ethics and anti-establishment lyrics?
- Which 1973 Elton John double album, featuring the hit "Candle in the Wind," takes its title from a central location in L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz?
- Which 1977 David Bowie album, featuring the hit "Sound and Vision," was the first installment of his acclaimed "Berlin Trilogy"?
- Which 1980s supergroup, featuring members of Yes and Emerson, Lake & Palmer, reached #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 with their debut single 'Heat of the Moment'?
- Which 1982 hit by Duran Duran, featuring a jungle-themed music video, helped define the "Second British Invasion" through its heavy rotation on MTV?
- Which 1984 Bruce Springsteen album produced a record-tying seven top-ten singles, including "Dancing in the Dark" and "Glory Days"?
- Which 1987 U2 album, featuring the hit "With or Without You," was heavily inspired by the band's fascination with the landscapes and culture of America?
- Which 1991 song by Nirvana is credited with bringing 'grunge' music into the mainstream?
- Which 2003 solo debut album by Beyoncé featured the hit singles 'Crazy in Love' and 'Baby Boy'?
- Which 2017 song by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee was the first Spanish-language track to top the Billboard Hot 100 since 1996?
- Which 20th-century Spanish virtuoso is widely credited with establishing the classical guitar as a respected concert instrument through his many transcriptions and performances?
- Which 21st-century genre, distinct from Fela Kuti's Afrobeat, originated in Nigeria and Ghana and features stars like Burna Boy and Wizkid?
- Which ambient music pioneer produced U2's 'The Joshua Tree' and Talking Heads' 'Remain in Light'?
- Which American band helped pioneer folk rock in the mid-1960s with their Rickenbacker 12-string electric guitar cover of Bob Dylan's "Mr. Tambourine Man"?
- Which American-born Greek soprano was known as "La Divina" and is credited with reviving the bel canto repertoire through her intense dramatic performances?
- Which American city is credited as the birthplace of techno music?
- Which American composer and songwriter wrote the classics "I've Got You Under My Skin" and "Night and Day"?
- Which American composer wrote 'Rhapsody in Blue' and 'Porgy and Bess'?
- Which American conductor and composer wrote the 1956 operetta "Candide," which features the challenging coloratura soprano aria "Glitter and Be Gay"?
- Which American hip-hop group released the 1986 debut album Licensed to Ill, the first rap record to reach number one on the Billboard 200?
- Which American hip-hop group released the influential album 'Straight Outta Compton'?
- Which American jazz trumpeter recorded the 1959 album 'Kind of Blue,' often cited as the best-selling jazz album of all time?
- Which American rock band is credited with bringing punk rock into the 1990s mainstream with their diamond-certified 1994 album Dookie?
- Which American rock band is famous for their members' "Starchild" and "Demon" face paint personas?
- Which American singer and actor, who starred on the sitcom 'The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet,' became the first artist to have a number-one hit on the Billboard Hot 100?
- Which American singer and former member of NSYNC is often referred to by the media as the 'Prince of Pop'?
- Which American singer and songwriter is widely regarded as the "Godfather of Shock Rock"?
- Which American singer and 'teen idol' of the 1950s and 60s is known for hits such as 'Splish Splash,' 'Dream Lover,' and 'Mack the Knife'?
- Which American singer-songwriter is famously known as the 'Piano Man'?
- Which American singer-songwriter released the 1975 hit song and album "Born to Run"?
- Which American singer-songwriter rose to fame with the 1993 album Tuesday Night Music Club and the hit single "All I Wanna Do"?
- Which artist is famous for the 1970 album 'Bridge over Troubled Water'?
- Which artist is known for the 2019 hit 'Old Town Road'?
- Which artist is known for the 2022 hit 'As It Was' and was a member of One Direction?
- Which artist is known for the hit song 'Born in the U.S.A.'?
- Which artist is often called the 'Godmother of Punk' following her 1975 album 'Horses'?
- Which artist, known for hits like 'Amarillo by Morning', is often called the 'King of Country Music'?
- Which artist released the 1986 album 'Graceland,' which featured South African 'Mbaqanga' music?