Nocturnes by Frédéric Chopin (Paris, France — 1830s) — Questions and answers

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What kind of music are Frédéric Chopin's Nocturnes?

Choices

  1. Short, lyrical solo piano pieces ✓
  2. Long, dramatic operas
  3. Fast-paced dance music
  4. Loud symphonies for a full orchestra

Answer: Short, lyrical solo piano pieces

From page 1

When Chopin arrived in Paris, how did he describe the city to a fellow émigré?

Choices

  1. A quiet, peaceful village
  2. A grand, intricate machine ✓
  3. A small, boring town
  4. A jungle full of wild animals

Answer: A grand, intricate machine

From page 3

Who did Chopin meet in Parisian society who described his playing as weaving spells?

Choices

  1. Józef Elsner
  2. Ludwika
  3. Franz Liszt ✓
  4. Heinrich Heine

Answer: Franz Liszt

From page 4

What was the other name for Aurore Dupin, the novelist Chopin met?

Choices

  1. Ludwika
  2. George Sand ✓
  3. Marie Curie
  4. Sophie Chopin

Answer: George Sand

From page 5

Where did Chopin spend a difficult winter with George Sand and her children, battling illness?

Choices

  1. In a grand concert hall in Paris
  2. In a desolate monastery in Mallorca ✓
  3. In a warm, sunny beach house
  4. In his childhood home in Warsaw

Answer: In a desolate monastery in Mallorca

From page 6

How did Chopin think a "true Nocturne" should be, different from John Field's?

Choices

  1. Like pleasant dreams, only.
  2. Encompassing nightmares, passions, and deep longings. ✓
  3. Simple and short, without much feeling.
  4. Easy for anyone to play right away.

Answer: Encompassing nightmares, passions, and deep longings.

From page 7

How did audiences feel about Chopin's late performances of his Nocturnes?

Choices

  1. Bored and uninterested
  2. Spellbound by his depth ✓
  3. Confused by the loud music
  4. Glad it was over quickly

Answer: Spellbound by his depth

From page 9

What do Chopin's Nocturnes continue to do even after he passed away?

Choices

  1. Sit quietly in old dusty books
  2. Inspire generations of musicians and listeners ✓
  3. Only be played by very famous people
  4. Get forgotten over time

Answer: Inspire generations of musicians and listeners

From page 10