The obscure riddle thread (1)

[Vinteuil]

Is the first year in the middle of the composer's life, the year a famous English naturalist was born ? 
Or would it be too easy ?

[bernhard]

Is the first year in the middle of the composer's life, the year a famous English naturalist was born ? 
Or would it be too easy ?

Are you talking about a British Naturalist who travelled on a ship named after a race of dogs very much liked by a cartoon character who - in the cartoon - is friends with a young pianist obsessed with Beethoven?

If so, the answer is no.

However, have you asked the same question but in regards to a famous British writer who shares the same initials (first and last name) with the above mentioned naturalist, then the answer would be yes.

[rhapsody in orange]

Is the composer German?

[bernhard]

Is the composer German?

No. He was born in a country that always fought for a national identity (not always successfully), and ended up living in a most musical capital (a place where the hills are alive with the sound of music).

[Skeptopotamus]

The HIlls are alive.....with the sound of Music!!!!!
with the songs that they've sung for a thousand years!!

salzburg.  i love that movie.   Anyways....  sorry other than that i'm helpless.  I'm too lazy to read all this -.-

as if salzburg narrows it down at all ><

"had to ponder and reflect deeply.."  arg sounds like transcendentalist or symbolist.  Great. grrrr

[Skeptopotamus]

im gonna go ahead and waste TWO guesses at once.


Cantaloube or Sharpentier?


edit:   arg.   seeing as how im never on here it wouldnt hurt to waste another guess.   based on your comment about them fighting for national w/e, and seeing as how this composer spent alot of time in salzburg, i'll also use Kodaly as a guess.


So is it Cantaloube, Sharpentier or Kodaly?

[chopinisque]

British again?

[bernhard]

The HIlls are alive.....with the sound of Music!!!!!
with the songs that they've sung for a thousand years!!

salzburg.  i love that movie.   Anyways....  sorry other than that i'm helpless.  I'm too lazy to read all this -.-

as if salzburg narrows it down at all ><

"had to ponder and reflect deeply.."  arg sounds like transcendentalist or symbolist.  Great. grrrr

Salzburg? Er... No. Remember, I said capital. Right country though.

[bernhard]

im gonna go ahead and waste TWO guesses at once.


Cantaloube or Sharpentier?


edit:   arg.   seeing as how im never on here it wouldnt hurt to waste another guess.   based on your comment about them fighting for national w/e, and seeing as how this composer spent alot of time in salzburg, i'll also use Kodaly as a guess.


So is it Cantaloube, Sharpentier or Kodaly?

No, no and  no.

Who mentioned Salzburg? Not me...

The region where the composer was born was described by the English 18th century musicologist Charles Burney as "The Conservatoire of Europe", so many musicians it produced. A popular saying of this region: "Every child here is born with a violin in its cradle." Finally the word that describes a native of this region is also used to describe  an "unconventional person, hippy, beatnik, avant-gardist, free-spirit, drop-out, artistic person".

[bernhard]

British again?

Er... no. (see above)

[TheHammer]

 Jan Vaclav Tomasek(1774-1850)

Are you referring, if it is correct, to his lyrical piano pieces in general? Or to a special series, perhaps his Rhapsodies? Or the eclogues, preceding John Field's nocturnes?

[xvimbi]

Jan Vaclav Tomasek(1774-1850)

Are you referring, if it is correct, to his lyrical piano pieces in general? Or to a special series, perhaps his Rhapsodies? Or the eclogues, preceding John Field's nocturnes?

I thought so too at first, but apparently, Tomasek never settled in "the capital". And I guess it could have been the short piano pieces that he pioneered (a la Schubert's Moments Musicaux). What one can learn through these riddles...

[TheHammer]

I thought so too at first, but apparently, Tomasek never settled in "the capital". And I guess it could have been the short piano pieces that he pioneered (a la Schubert's Moments Musicaux). What one can learn through these riddles...

Did he not settle in Prague(=capital??)? Of course, at first I also thought of "the" capital, but, his birth- and death year fit C.D.'s birthdate...
Anyway, could still be wrong

[xvimbi]

Did he not settle in Prague(=capital??)? Of course, at first I also thought of "the" capital, but, his birth- and death year fit C.D.'s birthdate...
Anyway, could still be wrong

Bernhard wrote that Salzburg was in the right country, but not the capital he was referring too. But then, in those times, practically everything in that neighborhood was "married" up by Austria, so Prague could still be a valid capital...

[bernhard]

Jan Vaclav Tomasek(1774-1850)

Are you referring, if it is correct, to his lyrical piano pieces in general? Or to a special series, perhaps his Rhapsodies? Or the eclogues, preceding John Field's nocturnes?

Close, but no, not Tomasek. However, there was a very special relationship between the composer and Tomasek.

[bernhard]

Bernhard wrote that Salzburg was in the right country, but not the capital he was referring too. But then, in those times, practically everything in that neighborhood was "married" up by Austria, so Prague could still be a valid capital...

xvimbi is right. Salzburg is in which country? and what is the capital (nowadays) of that particular country?

[bernhard]

I thought so too at first, but apparently, Tomasek never settled in "the capital". And I guess it could have been the short piano pieces that he pioneered (a la Schubert's Moments Musicaux). What one can learn through these riddles...

Indeed Shcubert was the famous composer I had in mind that ended up getting the credit for the musical genre that rightfully was "invented" (or at least named) by our obscure composer, but it is not the "moments musicaux".

[xvimbi]

I'll try: Jan Hugo Vorisek (1791-1825): Sonata in B-flat minor op. 20
It's the Impromptus that he pioneered

[xvimbi]

I don't know why I have the "Sonata in B-flat minor" in my answer. That's a copy and paste error. It should be the Impromptus that are important

[TheHammer]

Yep, just found it out, too. Vorisek named 6 piano pieces "Impromtus" in 1822.
[edit] It was his op.7
 Arrgh, kind of overread the "it is in the same country" - thing. I thought like: "hmm, Conservatoire of Europe= Czech lands --> capital --> Prague. 

[bernhard]

Well done!

Indeed, Vorisek is the man! And the Impromptus op. 7 the work I had in mind. Both Tomasek (with his "eclogues") and Vorisek started the "lyrical piano miniature" trend, that was to be such a characteristic feature of the romantics. It is really sad that such beautiful pieces (both eclogues and impromptus) are completley disregarded. I treid to get thescores for Tomasek Eclogues but it seems to be impossible (I did manage Vorisek Impromptus though).

I let you two fight it over who starts the next riddle.

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

[xvimbi]

I let you two fight it over who starts the next riddle.

TheHammer, you can have this riddle if you want to.

[rhapsody in orange]

Haha isn't this kinda deja vu? xvimbi and thehammer fighting over the thread again =)   

[TheHammer]

I don't feel that I have enough time at the moment for this riddle
Sorry, but, if xvimbi does not want it, I hereby give the thread to anyone who does and has an interesting riddle in mind!

[xvimbi]

Alright, I'll do it then.

This piece, which is really about many pieces, is from a composer who also wrote important works for an instrument rarely seen in a symphony hall.

[TheHammer]

Was the composer from a German-speaking country?

[xvimbi]

Was the composer from a German-speaking country?

Some people in this country do speak German, but it is not the official language. That should narrow it down to not more than about 50 countries

[TheHammer]

Yeah, I had preferred an unconditioned "yes"

Is the mentioned instrument a string instrument?

[xvimbi]

Yeah, I had preferred an unconditioned "yes"

Is the mentioned instrument a string instrument?

How about an unconditional "No"?

[bernhard]

Was the composer born after 1900?

[xvimbi]

Was the composer born after 1900?

No.

[bernhard]

Was the composer Italian?

[xvimbi]

Was the composer Italian?

No.

I need to put "AFAIK" before all my statements, because it is very hard to come by any information on these obscure composers...

[rhapsody in orange]

Is the instrument a woodwind (single-reeded) instrument?

[xvimbi]

Is the instrument a woodwind (single-reeded) instrument?

Indeedidoo it is

[rhapsody in orange]

Is the instrument very commonly used for jazz music?

[xvimbi]

Is the instrument very commonly used for jazz music?

Rather commonly, indeed

[rhapsody in orange]

Is it a piece for solo piano?

[xvimbi]

Is it a piece for solo piano?

Yup

[rhapsody in orange]

Is/was the composer French?

[xvimbi]

Is/was the composer French?

Mais non!

[chopinisque]

Did the composer compose jazz or "modern" music?

[xvimbi]

Did the composer compose jazz or "modern" music?

Although there are "modern" components in the composer's music, in a way that the composer developed a personal signature style, there doesn't seem to be anything revolutionary and no Jazz

[bernhard]

Was the composer American (USA)?

[rhapsody in orange]

Did the composer die after 1900?

[xvimbi]

Was the composer American (USA)?

Yeeha! No.

[xvimbi]

Did the composer die after 1900?

Yes, indeed

[bernhard]

I need to put "AFAIK" before all my statements, because it is very hard to come by any information on these obscure composers...

Do you actually know where the composer was born/nationality?

[xvimbi]

Do you actually know where the composer was born/nationality?

Yes/yes. My remark was general. There are some things I do know. The composer is not THAT obscure.

[bernhard]

Just checking 

Is the birth place the same as the nationality?