Home | Stories | Quiz: How Well Do You Know the Music of Sergei Rachmaninoff? Quiz: How Well Do You Know the Music of Sergei Rachmaninoff? By Adela Skowronski | March 28, 2023 Share this Post <section><h2><h1>How well do you know the music of Sergei Rachmaninoff?<br /></h1></h2><p><p>Born on April 1, 1873, we honor Rachmaninoff as we celebrate the 150th anniversary of his birth. </p><p>You’ve heard his works before: from his wildly popular piano concertos to his haunting preludes. But how much do you really know about this composer’s music? Take our quiz to find out!<br /></p></p></section><section><h2><h2></h2><h2>Which piano piece is notorious for being one of the hardest pieces in classical piano repertoire?<br /></h2></h2></section><section><h3><h2>In addition to being a composer, Rachmaninoff was a pianist with famously large hands. What was reputed to be his handspan range on the classical piano?<br /></h2></h3></section><section><h3><h2>Which writer's poem inspired Rachmaninoff’s choral symphony <em>The Bells</em>?<br /></h2><p><img width="5931" height="3959" decoding="async" src="https://images.pexels.com/photos/1370295/pexels-photo-1370295.jpeg?auto=compress&cs=tinysrgb&w=1260&h=750&dpr=2" alt="Assorted books on bookshelves" /><br /></p></h3></section><section><h3><h2>After a panned premiere of his First Symphony, which piece helped rebound Rachmaninoff’s career? </h2></h3></section><section><h3><h2>What is the name of the chant that appears as a theme in Rachmaninoff’s tone poem <em>Isle of the Dead</em>?<br /></h2><p><img decoding="async" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/46/Arnold_B%C3%B6cklin_-_The_Isle_of_the_Dead_-_WGA3029.jpg?20110603041604" alt="" /></p></h3></section><section><h3><h2>Which composer’s theme did Rachmaninoff <em>NOT</em> use for a theme and variations piece? <br /></h2></h3></section><section><h3><h2></h2><h2>Rachmaninoff’s <em>Vocalise</em> is most often performed by a solo instrument and piano.... But for what instrumentation was it originally written?</h2></h3><p>Check out this <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVyza9jzw18" target="_blank">this version</a> featuring Luka Šulić and Mia Miljkovic</p></section><section><h3><h2>Which lucky pianist got the chance to premiere Rachmaninoff’s Prelude in G Minor?</h2></h3><p><em>Hint: the premiere was in Moscow in 1903...</em><br /></p></section><section><h3><h2>Which of these famous musicians did Rachmaninoff NOT dedicate a piece to?</h2></h3></section><section><h3><h2>The Prelude in C-sharp Minor is one of Rachmaninoff’s most famous works. What collection of pieces does this prelude belong to? <br /></h2></h3></section><section><h3><h2>To whom did Rachmaninoff gift a jar of honey as an attempt to spark up a friendship?<br /></h2><p><img width="5339" height="3559" decoding="async" src="https://images.pexels.com/photos/6422025/pexels-photo-6422025.jpeg?auto=compress&cs=tinysrgb&w=1260&h=750&dpr=2" alt="Honey on Plate and Spoon" /></p></h3></section><section><h2><h2><strong>Not bad!</strong></h2></h2><p>But there's no harm in brushing up! Visit <a href="https://www.wfmt.com/tag/rachmaninoff" target="_blank">wfmt.com to learn more about Sergei Rachmaninoff</a>.</p></section><section><h3><h2><strong>You're a Rachmaninoff expert!</strong></h2></h3><p>Check out all of WFMT's stories about Rachmaninoff on <a href="https://www.wfmt.com/tag/rachmaninoff" target="_blank">wfmt.com</a>.</p></section><section><h3><h2><strong>Brush up on Rachmaninoff!</strong></h2></h3><p>There's so much to learn! Visit <a href="https://www.wfmt.com/tag/rachmaninoff" target="_blank">wfmt.com</a> to read more about Sergei Rachmaninoff, and to hear great performances of his music.</p></section> Tags Show AllHide QuizSergei RachmaninoffRelated PostsQuiz: How Well Do You Know Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Life and Times?Rachmaninoff 150: A CelebrationLyric Returns With Free Star-Studded Virtual GalaCSO 2022-23: Muti's Farewell SeasonListening Party: WFMT’s New Show Prizes Fresh Perspectives on Classical Music SoundsHope and Strength: Celebrating Black Artistry with Lawrence Brownlee & Lyric
