Entry Exam

Somebody I know well, sent me this entry exam paper for A very well known Orchestra & Choir.  He claims it to be a real document and is used for all new applicants. I think it is used, but more as a test of the applicants humour than anything else. I have visions of an earnest musician sitting down to answer this paper, on seeing it they palpitate at the fear of hidden meanings in the questions Or perhaps, some deep psychological interpretation of their answers. One last thing; As you see it here is exactly how it is written and laid out – Quite cruel really.

Whatever the truth, it is good fun. Enjoy…..!

The pass mark is 10% but be careful–over 45% and you are overqualified.

1. Who wrote the following:

a) Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6
b) Fauve’s Requiem
c) Wagner’s Ring Cycle

[5 pts.]

2. Tchaikovsky wrote 6 symphonies including Symphony
no. 4. Name the other five.

[5 pts.]

3. Explain “counterpoint” or write your name on the
reverse of the paper.

[10 pts.]

4. Which of the following would you tuck under you chin?

a) a timpani
b) an organ
c) a ‘cello
d) a viola

[1 pt.]

5. Can you explain “sonata form”? (Answer yes or no.)

[5 pts.]

6. Which of the following literary works was made the
subject of a Verdi opera?

a) First among Equals — Jeffrey Archer
b) Macbeth — William Shakespeare
c) Noddy and Big Ears — Enid Blyton

[5 pts.]

7. Domenico Scarlatti wrote 555 harpsichord sonatas for
which instrument?

[5 pts.]

8. Arrange the following movements in order of speed,
starting with the slowest first.

a) Quickly
b) Slowly
c) Very Quickly
d) At a Moderate Pace

[4 pts.]

9. Where would you normally expect to find the conductor
during a performance?

[5 pts.]

10. Which of the following wrote incidental music to
A Midsummer Night’s Dream?

a) Des O’Connor
b) Mickey Mouse
c) Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy
d) Terry Wogan

[5 pts.]

11. Which of the following is the odd one out?

a) Sir Colin Davis
b) Andrew Davis
c) Sir Peter Maxwell Davies
d) Desmond Lynham

[5 pts.]

12. Arrange the following words into the name of a well
known Puccini opera.

Bohème, La

[5 pts.]

13. Within five minutes, how long is Chopin’s Minute Waltz?

[5 pts.]

14. From which of the following countries did Richard
Strauss come?

a) Venezuela
b) Sri Lanka
c) Germany
d) Japan

[5 pts.]

15. For what town were Haydn’s “Paris” Symphonies written?

[5 pts.]

16. Which is the odd one out?

a) Fantasy Overture Romeo and Juliet — Tchaikovsky
b) Romeo and Juliet — Berlioz
c) Romeo and Juliet Ballet — Prokofiev
d) Ten Green Bottles — anon.

[5 pts.]

17. From which song do the following lines come?

“God save our gracious Queen, Long live our noble Queen.”

[5 pts.]

18. Spell the following musical terms.

allegro
rallentando
crotchet
pizzicato
intermezzo

[5 pts.]

19. Tosca is a character found in which Puccini opera?

[5 pts.]

20. Arrange the following letters to form the abbreviation
for a well known British broadcasting corporation.

C, B, B.

[5 pts.]

6 Comments

  1. Carol Chambers

    OOh Far to difficult for me!

    Reply
  2. joanroberts

    Well well – who would believe it – over qualified – sits up even straighter – giggles – loved it – more giggles.

    Reply
  3. LisaT

    Very good, love number 2!

    Reply
  4. Chris Wright

    I struggled with the last question 🙁
    Would love to see what scores other people got 😉

    Reply
  5. Chris Wright

    It was the last one that had me stumped…

    Reply
  6. Emma

    Hilarious! I had trouble with the spelling question though…

    Reply

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