Riddle # 7

[bernhard]

How to play:
 
1. Only pieces for piano solo, or pieces where the piano plays an important part (e.g. Piano concertos, piano trios, etc.)  
 
2. Only mainstream repertory (no obscure composers, or pieces like Scarlatti sonatas whose number is 555 unless it is a well known sonata amongst the 555)  
 
3. Only one question per player (A player can only ask another question after being answered)  
 
4. Only questions that can be answered with "yes" or "no"
 
5. A player can at any moment in the game ask one and only one cryptic statement from the riddler by asking: “Can I please have a cryptic statement?”. The riddler can choose if his/her statement will concern the composer (if it has not been explicitly and correctly mentioned by name yet) or the piece.  
 
3. Penalties:  
 
a. Any player can ask as many questions as s/he wants, however if the player makes a guess about the composer's name, the name of the piece, or the opus number, after three “nos” s/he is out of the game (e.g. “is the piece Papillons”, “is the piece by Schumann” and “is the piece Moonlight sonata by Beethoven”, if wrong and asked by the same player would lead to him/her being excluded from the game. However if the player had asked: “is the name of the piece insect related”, “is the piece by someone who studied law in Leipzig” and “is the piece by a deaf composer whose title was chosen by his editor”, that is all right). So, as long as the name of the piece or of the composer is not mentioned in the question, no penalty results.  
 
b. If the riddler gives the wrong answer to a guesser's question and therefore utterly confuses and misleads the guesser, the riddler will have to miss a round, that is, s/he must win two games before s/he is allowed to be the riddler again (and eat the erasers of their pencils...)

[bernhard]

This piece was a milestone in this composer's career.

[ahmedito]

Is the composer known mainly for this piece.

[allchopin]

It's definitely Moonlight Sonata.

[bernhard]

Is the composer known mainly for this piece.

No, but it is one of his most well-known pieces (but then again, not his most well-known piece).

(0/1)

[bernhard]

It's definitely Moonlight Sonata.

It's definitely not the moonlght sonata.

(0/2)

[super_ardua]

Is he a classical composer?

[bernhard]

Is he a classical composer?

No.

(0/3)

[Antnee]

Is he a romantic composer?

[bernhard]

Is he a romantic composer?

Nope.

(0/4)

[mtmccarthy]

Hm... well then, is he a 20th century composer?

[bernhard]

Hm... well then, is he a 20th century composer?

Yes!

(1/5)

[Egghead]

Did the composer live in a country that was in the Soviet bloc ("behind" the Iron curtain)?

[blindmouth]

is the composer a french impressionist?

[mtmccarthy]

Was this piece written in a minor key?

[bernhard]

Did the composer live in a country that was in the Soviet bloc ("behind" the Iron curtain)?

Yes!

(2/6)

[bernhard]

is the composer a french impressionist?

No

(2/7)

[bernhard]

Was this piece written in a minor key?

Difficult to say. But I will say it. No.

(2/8 )

[allchopin]

Does the composer rhyme with spaghetti?

[Rob47]

is it an anthem?

[blindmouth]

did the composer write variations for corelli, chopin and paganini pieces?

[chopiabin]

Did the composer at times regret that he was known so widely for this piece?

[bernhard]

Does the composer rhyme with spaghetti?

No.

However if you stretched it a bit, it might be said to (almost) rhyme with another kind of Italian pasta

(2/9)

[bernhard]

is it an anthem?

No. (At least I don't think it is).

(2/10)

[bernhard]

did the composer write variations for corelli, chopin and paganini pieces?

No.

(2/11)

[bernhard]

Did the composer at times regret that he was known so widely for this piece?

No.

The composer liked it and often played it as an encore.

(2/12)

[mtmccarthy]

(To sift out a few possibilities... )

Was the composer male?

[bernhard]

(To sift out a few possibilities... )

Was the composer male?

Yes, he was.

(3/13)

[Antnee]

Were the composers initials M. M.?

[bernhard]

Were the composers initials M. M.?

Hmmm. Interesting. But no, you got the letters wrong.

(3/14)

[Egghead]

..However if you stretched it a bit, it might be said to (almost) rhyme with another kind of Italian pasta

Does it (almost) rhyme with any of Annellini, Bigoli, Cannelloni, Capelli d'Angelo, Cappelletti, Chitarra (!), Conchiglie, Farfalle, Fedelini, Fettuccine, Fusilli, Lasagne, Linguine, Maccharoni, Manicotti, Mezza Zita, Orecchiette, Piegla e fieno, Pappardelle, Penne, Ravioli, Rigatoni, Rotelle, Tagliatelle, Tortelli, Tortellini, Trenette, Vermicelli?  

[bernhard]

Does it (almost) rhyme with any of Annellini, Bigoli, Cannelloni, Capelli d'Angelo, Cappelletti, Chitarra (!), Conchiglie, Farfalle, Fedelini, Fettuccine, Fusilli, Lasagne, Linguine, Maccharoni, Manicotti, Mezza Zita, Orecchiette, Piegla e fieno, Pappardelle, Penne, Ravioli, Rigatoni, Rotelle, Tagliatelle, Tortelli, Tortellini, Trenette, Vermicelli?  

Hmmmm. Either you don't know much about Italian pasta, or you just missed the one that rhymed on purpose.

So the anwer, is no. The composer's name does not rhyme with any of the pastas above (now I have pretty much given it away )

(3/15)

[Nightscape]

May we have a cryptic statement?

[Rob47]

Does his name rhyme with "Octa-Oh-Itch"?

[bernhard]

May we have a cryptic statement?

"Here the composer established a truly individual style, devoid of the influences of romanticism and Impressionism that had previously taken hold in his creative efforts. One senses a forecast of the primeval forces of his 19** piano works, in which the martellato technique of piano writing would be used, exploiting fully the percussive properties of the instrument."

(***** ******* - "****** for piano - A survey of his solo literature - Indiana University Press).

(3/16)

[bernhard]

Does his name rhyme with "Octa-Oh-Itch"?

Er...

No. (And I cannot think of any Italian pasta that rhymes with that either )

(3/17)

[Egghead]

Hmmmm. Either you don't know much about Italian pasta, or you just missed the one that rhymed on purpose.

So the anwer, is no. The composer's name does not rhyme with any of the pastas above (now I have pretty much given it away )

(3/15)

No, you are right on both counts. I still have my head full of gnocchi (which are made using potatoes) and bbbucatini.

A magyar was top on my (admittedly short...) list.
Question: is the composer an able akrobat on the piano?

[allchopin]

Alright, I can rebound from a small defeat... I'm guessing we're talking about Bartok here.  Eh?

[Nightscape]

Is it the Allegro Barbaro by Bartok?  Mabye?

[bernhard]

Sorry guys, but

:Dnightscape128 is the winner:D

Allegro Barbaro by Bartok it is.

And I was thinking of "gnocchi".

[allchopin]

[shadow=yellow,left,30]Call to recompense[/shadow]

(***** ******* - "****** for piano - A survey of his solo literature - Indiana University Press).

Bernhard, I must tell you that I'm resisting every urge in my body to grind you into a pulp (disclaimer: figuratively).  I was going to write Allegro Barbaro but then I took a closer look at your cryptic statement: the first word clearly contains 5 letters.  How many letters does Allegro have?  7!
I demand that this award be removed from this said 'nightscape128's hands and to reinstate justice!  Do I have a second!  

[Nightscape]

Hey!!   Who made you Piano Forum King?

Besides, if you were confused, the rules clearly state what to do in this sort of situation.  Bernhard must miss one round.

Now.... let's try to be civil here.


And please don't refer to me as though I only theoretically exist.

[Egghead]

Alright, I can rebound from a small defeat... I'm guessing we're talking about Bartok here.  Eh?

Good, then do rebound from a small defeat! You are GUESSING that with all those clues Bernhard gave, a magyar (hungarian) rhyming with Gnocchi, somehow related to bb-bucatini and an ABLE (A)KROBAT (hello anagram) may possibly be - BELA BARTOK?

I am deeply insulted   at how carelessly you read my posts... (ok, I am not. just joking. )

...I'm resisting every urge in my body to grind you into a pulp ... 5 letters.  How many letters does Allegro have?  7! I demand ... to reinstate justice!  Do I have a second!  

You have a second ... look at the clue. David Yeomans first name does happen to have five letters, not seven. How exactly do you claim Bernhard was confusing people?

Congrats nightscape128!

Egghead
p.s. allchopin, if it makes you happy: I could not work out what the piece was, so I went for the fun option.

[bernhard]

Allchopin:

Tut, tut, tut. You seem to be taking it rather badly. Unfortunately it happens all the time. Read through past riddles and you will see that opportunism usually pays off. While a lot of players are sweating from the effort of asking the basic questions, at the final stages someone who was waiting on the strings comes along and gets the prize. Oh the unfairness of it all.  

Anyway, your motion is denied  (see below).

Egghead:

After a lifetime of giving homework to students just for them to bring me nothing but excuses why they had not done it, it is a shocking (and very pleasant) surprise to come across someone who actually does the homework! Well done. You get a “good student” sticker for that!

Yes, here is the full reference:

(***** ******* - "****** for piano - A survey of his solo literature - Indiana University Press).

David Yeomans – “Bartok for piano – A survey of his solo literature – Indiana University Press.

[Now, allchopin, why would you imagine that the author of a book would be the name of the piece? – all you may get out of this is the gold medal for the high jump to the wrong conclusion event ]

Nightscape128:

Besides, if you were confused, the rules clearly state what to do in this sort of situation.  Bernhard must miss one round.

Oh, the nerve of it!  >:(Suggesting that Bernhard should be banned from next round without even bothering to do the homework! Instead you should be supplying us with a cryptical remark about the next piece. Get on with it!

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

[Egghead]

Egghead:

After a lifetime of giving homework to students just for them to bring me nothing but excuses why they had not done it, it is a shocking (and very pleasant) surprise to come across someone who actually does the homework! Well done. You get a “good student” sticker for that!

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

oooh. allchopin, do you believe this  . I got my SECOND good student sticker from Bernhard! [bounces around the room overjoyed...]  
Am I going to get a marshmallow when I earn the third one?  PLEEEASE.

But then again...   I thought I argued for intrinsic motivation in some other thread... Ah well, we mustn't be too fussy.
Bernhard - do I detect just a tiny bit of bitterness there? Were you about to throw yourself out of a window (a lifetime) because of these terrible "brats"?

Instead you should be supplying us with a cryptical remark about the next piece. Get on with it!

or else some people are going to go off-topic again.

Egghead

[Nightscape]

I guess banning Bernhard would be a bit rash....  he's the life of the party!

Alright then, a cryptic statement.

This had been done several times before, but this time the composer had a trick up her/his sleeve that turned everything upside down.

[ahmedito]

Is it Rachmaninoffs variations on a Theme by Paganini?

[Nightscape]

No, its not Rachmaninoff's Variations on a Theme by Paganini.

[JK]

Is it an arrangement or transcription of a piece?

[Nightscape]

Is it an arrangement or transcription of a piece?

No, although it adapts a melody from another composer.