Riddle #5

[ayahav]

Did the composer study in Moscow?

[Rob47]

Was the composer from France?

[xvimbi]

Did the composer study in Moscow?

Not that I know of (the mighty Internet did not reveal that he did)

Was the composer from France?

Oui - Yes - Ja - Si

[liszmaninopin]

Did the composer die in Algiers?

[xvimbi]

Did the composer die in Algiers?

No

[Max]

Is it a well known piece?

Is the composer Faure?

[bernhard]

Is it a well known piece?

Is the composer Faure?

Reply # 91 states that the composer’s name second letter is not A. That rules out Faure.

Does the piece has an important part for the Harp?

[bernhard]

Actually, I will be bold:

The composer is Vincent D’Indy (1851 – 1931), a stubborn classicist who refused to follow his contemporaries into composing “modern music”

The piece is “Symphony on a French Mountain Song”. (or “Symphonie Cevenole”) The title is misleading because it is not really a symphony, but more of a piano concerto, even though the piano is not set agasint the orchestra, but features as anther instrument.. The third movement has brilliant piano and harp passages, and it is d’Indy’s most important work.

My most important clue however, came from another thread where xvimbi mentioned this composer, so I knew he liked him.

(Don’t tell me I ‘m wrong! )

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

[xvimbi]

Actually, I will be bold:

The composer is Vincent D’Indy (1851 – 1931), a stubborn classicist who refused to follow his contemporaries into composing “modern music”

The piece is “Symphony on a French Mountain Song”. (or “Symphonie Cevenole”) The title is misleading because it is not really a symphony, but more of a piano concerto, even though the piano is not set agasint the orchestra, but features as anther instrument.. The third movement has brilliant piano and harp passages, and it is d’Indy’s most important work.

My most important clue however, came from another thread where xvimbi mentioned this composer, so I knew he liked him.

(Don’t tell me I ‘m wrong! )

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

You are right! Phantastic work, Bernhard! Nicely deduced using all clues the forum has to offer  

However, according to the rules, you can ask only one question at a time...


Naah, that was too smart to insist on stubborn rules. It is good to see that the clues did in fact work, although I would have wanted to drag it on a bit more.

Bernhard, your turn.

[bernhard]

You are right! Phantastic work, Bernhard! Nicely deduced using all clues the forum has to offer  

However, according to the rules, you can ask only one question at a time...


Naah, that was too smart to insist on stubborn rules. It is good to see that the clues did in fact work, although I would have wanted to drag it on a bit more.

Bernhard, your turn.

Actually I did not ask a question, I made a statement.

This much loved miniature almost didn't make it.

[xvimbi]

This much loved miniature almost didn't make it.

Hmmm, do you mean it was composed just before the composer died?

[bernhard]

No.

(0/1)

[liszmaninopin]

I have honestly never heard of the composer D'Indy...no wonder I was having difficulty, lol.  Would that go under the heading of an obscure composer?

Anyway, about Bernhard's piece:

Would this piece be recognized by non-musical people?

[xvimbi]

I have honestly never heard of the composer D'Indy...no wonder I was having difficulty, lol.  Would that go under the heading of an obscure composer?

I think D'Indy is far from being obscure. He was a well-known composer, founder of a renowned school, and his music was extremely popular. Unfortunately, it is not often performed nowadays. I'd recommend checking it out, though. If you like grand, symphonic music, you will sure like him. He also wrote a number of piano pieces that one can hear sometimes at recitals.

[xvimbi]

Was the idea to the piece jotted down in a notebook (or mentally) and tucked away for quite some time, until the composer remembered and made it into a real piece?

[ahmedito]

Does the piece or the composers work have a distinct and obvious nationalistic flavour?

[bernhard]

I have honestly never heard of the composer D'Indy...no wonder I was having difficulty, lol.  Would that go under the heading of an obscure composer?

Anyway, about Bernhard's piece:

Would this piece be recognized by non-musical people?

Difficult to say. Possibly. It is, as I said a much loved piece.

(1/2)

[bernhard]

I think D'Indy is far from being obscure. He was a well-known composer, founder of a renowned school, and his music was extremely popular. Unfortunately, it is not often performed nowadays. I'd recommend checking it out, though. If you like grand, symphonic music, you will sure like him. He also wrote a number of piano pieces that one can hear sometimes at recitals.

I agree. D'Indy is certainly amongst the ten most well-known French composers. I would call people like David Lumsdaine, Costin Miereanu and Stepan Rostomian obscure.

[bernhard]

Was the idea to the piece jotted down in a notebook (or mentally) and tucked away for quite some time, until the composer remembered and made it into a real piece?

Yes, but not exactly. But you are getting warmer.

(2/3)

[bernhard]

Does the piece or the composers work have a distinct and obvious nationalistic flavour?

My personal opinion is that it does not. I would consider the composer more "universal" than nationalistic. But having said that, there is no doubt that certain national influences colour his work.

(2/4)

[xvimbi]

Did the composer have a deadline and almost "didn't make it"?

[rph108]

Was it published posthumously?

[Rob47]

This is  a stupid way out of left field question but is the composer from a country that starts with an "N" and ends with a "Y"??

[bernhard]

Did the composer have a deadline and almost "didn't make it"?

No.You are getting cold now.

(2/5)

[bernhard]

Was it published posthumously?

No.

(2/6)

[bernhard]

This is  a stupid way out of left field question but is the composer from a country that starts with an "N" and ends with a "Y"??

No. And yet when I first saw your question I thought you were on to something.

(2/7)

[xvimbi]

Were the ideas/motifs for the piece also used in another piece, like a theme that was turned into a "miniature", but also used in, say, a symphony.

[liszmaninopin]

Could beginners master the technical difficulties of these piece?

[bernhard]

Were the ideas/motifs for the piece also used in another piece, like a theme that was turned into a "miniature", but also used in, say, a symphony.

No. At least I don't think so.

(2/8 )

[bernhard]

Could beginners master the technical difficulties of these piece?

Absolutely. It is a very easy piece.

(3/9)

[xvimbi]

Is the composer of the piece known?

[rph108]

Was the composer from France?

[bernhard]

Is the composer of the piece known?

Yes. It is a well-known composer (I would imagine him to be better known than D'Indy )

(4/10)

[bernhard]

Was the composer from France?

No.

(4/11)

[xvimbi]

Is/was the composer from a German-speaking country?

[bernhard]

Is/was the composer from a German-speaking country?

No.

(4/12)

[rph108]

does this minature have different sections?

[bernhard]

does this minature have different sections?

No (if you mean sections separated by repeat signs, for instance). But it is in ternary form (ABA)

(4/13)

[ayahav]

Was the composer chosen to compose music for the BBC production concerning an orchestra?

[bernhard]

Was the composer chosen to compose music for the BBC production concerning an orchestra?

Definitely not.

(4/14)

[Stolzing]

Chopin's Raindrop Prelude?

[bernhard]

Chopin's Raindrop Prelude?

No. Far easier to play than that.

(4/15)

[xvimbi]

Is the composer from an English speaking country?

[bernhard]

Is the composer from an English speaking country?

Yes.

(5/16)

[Max]

I'm already stumped...

Is it a piece which was written by the composer for his students as a study, but was then published?

[rph108]

Does the composers first name start with an A?

[bernhard]

Does the composers first name start with an A?

No. But his second name (not the surname) does.

(5/17)

[bernhard]

I'm already stumped...

Is it a piece which was written by the composer for his students as a study, but was then published?

No.

(5/18 )

[xvimbi]

Is it true that the composer's year of birth and year of death have only a total of three different numbers in them?

[bernhard]

Is it true that the composer's year of birth and year of death have only a total of three different numbers in them?

Let me see if I understand this correctly. If we had an hypothetical birth date of 1230 and a death date of 1315, there would be a total of three different numbers between them (2 - 0 - 5). If this is what you mean, then the answer is no.

There are 2 different numbers between the year of the composer's birth and the year of the composer's death.

However,  if you consider the composer's complete date of birth (dd - mm - yyyy) and date of death, then, yes there are three different numbers between them.

(come on guys! I have given you loads of cryptical remarks! )

(5/19)