New riddle thread(1)

[bernhard]

Brahm's Hungarian dances?

No. 

[bernhard]

Hmmm.  Well, Brahms wasn't married.  So, was the composer from a Slavic country?

No.

[bernhard]

Well, so far everything fits with my guess, but perhaps there are other possibilities. Let's see what Bernhard has to say about our conversation.

Yes, I am happy to say that you guessed it right. So it is up to you if you want to take it over form here or if you want to see if anyone else gets it (they donlt seem to be making much progrees do they? )

[TheHammer]

Yes, I am happy to say that you guessed it right. So it is up to you if you want to take it over form here or if you want to see if anyone else gets it (they donlt seem to be making much progrees do they? )

Er, how do you know? After xvimbi posted his solution I checked for children's games and then it was clear, of course, but I thought that posting it as a my own proposition would be kind of lame since he posted it before. Btw anda seemed to have guessed it, too. (Arr, I was up to Bizet myself, but then obviously overread the marriage thing and didn't check on his four hand pieces. Stupid me.)

[xvimbi]

Alright, I guess I'll spell it out: Bizet's Jeux d'Enfants

Bernhard, the hint about the marriage with his professor's daughter was too obvious. And, knowing your fondness of pieces for (and about) children led me to this particular work. I must say, I have never looked at it. Sounds like a lot of fun, though!

In any case, if this is the solution, I'm more than glad to give the right to present the next riddle to somebody else.

So, xvimbi, do youthink this is getting too unchalleging for you?

Not at all! I practically never know what the riddles are about. I use Google and the books that I have at my home to get to the solution. Being a scientist must be good for something, and if it's only for being able to add 2 and 2 together

The solution is 3.9999999 (my calculator says so...)

I'll take a stab at your new riddle...

[bernhard]

Er, how do you know? After xvimbi posted his solution I checked for children's games and then it was clear, of course, but I thought that posting it as a my own proposition would be kind of lame since he posted it before. Btw anda seemed to have guessed it, too. (Arr, I was up to Bizet myself, but then obviously overread the marriage thing and didn't check on his four hand pieces. Stupid me.)

So I guess it is up to you now, since you were actually the first to mention the details in full!

[bernhard]

Alright, I guess I'll spell it out: Bizet's Jeux d'Enfants

Bernhard, the hint about the marriage with his professor's daughter was too obvious. And, knowing your fondness of pieces for (and about) children led me to this particular work. I must say, I have never looked at it. Sounds like a lot of fun, though!

Really? I thought that was completely obscure! I guess google can answer anything then!

By the way, if you've never heard it, it is a wonderful piece (I have the sisters Labecque playing it) and although it is about children it is not really for children to play. They are not overly difficult though. My favourite pieces in it are "The top" and "Petit mari petite femme".

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

[TheHammer]

*sigh* well OK, but I doubt it fits the rules...

Imagine you go to a concert hall and have no clue what you are going to see (piano, orchestra, chamber, ballet, opera...). Chances to hear this "piece" are 2.5 times as high as to hear Brahms Sonata op.120.

(Note: Think theme-wise.)

[bernhard]

*sigh* well OK, but I doubt it fits the rules...

Imagine you go to a concert hall and have no clue what you are going to see (piano, orchestra, chamber, ballet, opera...). Chances to hear this "piece" are 2.5 times as high as to hear Brahms Sonata op.120.

(Note: Think theme-wise.)

Is it a piano concerto?

[TheHammer]

Is it a piano concerto?

No. (Hmmm, "chances" has nothing to do with popularity or how often one piece is played in general.)

[chopinisque]

Is the composer French?  lol  This has got to be the most over asked question ever.

[TheHammer]

Is the composer French? lol This has got to be the most over asked question ever.

No.

[rhapsody in orange]

Is the composer German?

[TheHammer]

Is the composer German?

Yes.

[chopinisque]

Is the composer from the classical period?

[rhapsody in orange]

Does the piece have anything to do with the number 2.5? (why specifically 2.5 times as high -referring to the chances-)

[TheHammer]

Is the composer from the classical period?

"The" composer is from the classical period, indeed.

[TheHammer]

Does the piece have anything to do with the number 2.5? (why specifically 2.5 times as high -referring to the chances-)

"The piece" has nothing to do with 2.5. Actually, I am not really sure if 2.5 is the correct number, because, well, perhaps there... but that would be like a cryptic statement and we don't want that, do we?

[bernhard]

Is the piece for piano solo, then?

[TheHammer]

Is the piece for piano solo, then?

Well, "the piece" is for piano solo, but when you ask in this direction, I think you are on the wrong path .
Again, you are in this concert hall, and every single piece (of every genre) could be performed with the same probability. Hearing "the" one I mean is still at least 2,5 times as probable as the Brahms sonata.

[rhapsody in orange]

Is the piece a theme-and-variations?

[TheHammer]

Is the piece a theme-and-variations?

[edit]
Now we are getting very warm. Okay, let's say, a theme-and-variation is part of the solution, but not the solution itself. We are looking for an original piece here...

[rhapsody in orange]

Is the composer a pupil of Haydn?

[TheHammer]

Is the composer a pupil of Haydn?

He took some lessons with him, definitley
Although some would disagree that he learnt so much by him...

[xvimbi]

Does the work in question consist of six parts?

[rhapsody in orange]

Did the composer dedicate this work to anyone?

[TheHammer]

Does the work in question consist of six parts?

No.

[TheHammer]

Did the composer dedicate this work to anyone?

er, well, let's say, the work I am really looking for, wasn't dedicated I think, but in our imaginary concert hall, you could hear a work dedicated to someone... (mysterious, isn't it?)

But, since I said: Think theme-wise, I would also accept a work with a dedication.

[chopinisque]

Is it in sonata form?

[TheHammer]

Is it in sonata form?

No.

[rhapsody in orange]

Is it Diabelli Waltz Op 120?

[TheHammer]

Is it Diabelli Waltz Op 120?

No. But that is very warm, as you might guess. I wonder if anyone really found out what I meant with my original statement?

[rhapsody in orange]

Did the composer die at an age of 57?

[TheHammer]

Did the composer die at an age of 57?

You wanna get sure, don't you?

Anyway, no he died a little bit earlier, though you could think he was 57, just looking at his birth- and deathyear.

[xvimbi]

I wonder if anyone really found out what I meant with my original statement?

Not really. You say that the "chances to hear the piece are 2.5 times higher than hearing a Brahms Sonata", but then you say that "chances have nothing to do with how often you hear the piece". Those statements are contardictory to me. Could you please clarify.

[TheHammer]

Not really. You say that the "chances to hear the piece are 2.5 times higher than hearing a Brahms Sonata", but then you say that "chances have nothing to do with how often you hear the piece". Those statements are contardictory to me. Could you please clarify.

Well, I thought that would cause confusion. Hmm, let's see...
There are two definitons of probability I will speak of:
Firstly, the statistical one, that means, with the help of statistics you count the number of times a certain event is happening, then devide this number with the overall amount of events (for our example, out of 200 symphony concerts performed, Mozarts' Jupiter symphony was performed 10 times, so you could conclude that the probability of performing this symphony is 5 %.) This method refers to events where each single event has another probability.
Then there is the pure mathematical one. Every event has the same chance (e.g. you play dice, you want  to know how great is the chance of getting a "5". There are six numbers, you want one number so the probability is exactly 1/6= 0.1666...)
For our case, my statement referred to the second method. As I have said somewhere, "every single piece has the same probability". I know that this is not true, it is kind of an idealized model.
For our symphony example that would mean: 200 symphony concerts, but, since some symph. are performed more often, only 120 symphonies. The probability of hearing the Jupiter-Symph. would be 1/120 = 0.008333...
Now don't tell me that is not reality. It is just a model. Hope this helps.

And i would recommend you look very closely on the Brahms sonata. If you figure out what is so special about it, you know what I mean by 2,5 times as high, and why I always use inverterted commas for "the piece".

[chopinisque]

You mean I can't find the answer without the scores?

[TheHammer]

You mean I can't find the answer without the scores?

Of course you can, I am just saying that you have to know something about the sonata. It is not "in the notes" (edit: it has to do with the instrumentation...). Just think about it, all pieces are supposed to have the same probability of being performed, yet this one is 2.5 times more probable than the sonata? I mean, 2.5 is a strange number isn`t it... And mark the note: think theme-wise. We are not really talking about pieces hear

[chopinisque]

But it is a piano piece, oui?

[TheHammer]

But it is a piano piece, oui?

The piece we are looking for?
Yes, it is written for piano originally. But, if you imagine yourself in the concert hall, hearing this piece could as well mean something non-piano related (now I have spoken it out, so this should faciliate it...)

The Brahms sonata is of course a work for piano and...

[rhapsody in orange]

So this piece is written for the piano and yet another instrument plays it as well?

[TheHammer]

So this piece is written for the piano and yet another instrument plays it as well?

One could say so.

[rhapsody in orange]

Does more than 1 instrument (other than the piano) play the piece?

[TheHammer]

Does more than 1 instrument (other than the piano) play the piece?

Yes, more than 10 even, but all together. (Rhapsody I really thought you were up to it, with all variation and the composer...?)

[rhapsody in orange]

And can I say that the composer made transcriptions/other works based on the original?

[TheHammer]

And can I say that the composer made transcriptions/other works based on the original?

Well, honestly...that is exactly the right way to think of it!!!
The whole question is about these other works (the thread is nearly yours rhapsody...).

[rhapsody in orange]

Is the piece in Eb major?

[TheHammer]

Is the piece in Eb major?

Now, if you are asking any longer I will shout it out loudly. Yes, it is  in Eb Major, now come on you know it.

And btw, it can be hazardous, some folks might be viewing this and they will say: Oh naturally, it's ... . Don't take too much time.

[rhapsody in orange]

Beethoven's Eroica? haha actually I'm not sure lol and strike 2 for me.. so if I don't get it right haha

[TheHammer]

Beethoven's Eroica? haha actually I'm not sure lol and strike 2 for me.. so if I don't get it right haha

Chh, that comes so damn near the truth that I do not know what to do. I mean, obviously, the Eroica Symphony is no piano piece...
On the other hand, the whole point of "it is more probable", "think theme-wise" etc. is so strongly linked with this symphony that that is nearly the answer . So no strike two for you, but it isn't completely correct either...