There have been some concert hall events that have certainly reached the spirit but nothing quite like this. For Miss Mussel, the reasons for this are twofold. The first is that the liturgy hasn’t changed much for 1800 years, so there is a strong sense of connection to those that have come before and as well as a reminder that our allotted 80 years are merely a heartbeat in the grand scheme of human endeavour.

The second attraction is that this is working music that does not aim to entertain but rather to facilitate transcendence. That the music accomplishes this within an aesthetic that is now considered to be austere, makes it all the more beautiful.

There is a new leader in the quiz standings but still plenty of time to get some points up over the next 6 weeks. A strong finish just might get you the top prize, which is, in case you have forgotten, a $100 gift voucher for Arkiv music. Second and third prizes are nothing to sniff at either.

The full rules are here. Clues on Tues and Weds. Guesses that include some combination of composer, title of piece and date of composition are sent in before midnight EST Weds qualify. Points are given for each component, so partial guesses still count.

Like this? Why not try:

• Quiz #6 Pencils Down Everyone
• Quiz #6: Clue Two
• Quiz #6: Clue One

Reader Daniel passed along this news clip:

Daniel also drew Miss Mussel’s attention to a bit of marching band humour courtesy of the Mr Show.

In high school, Miss Mussel’s music teacher was obsessed with marches despite the fact that in Canada we don’t march. Ever. For any reason. So we played them all the time. Army of the Nile, Colonel Bogey, Blaze Away, you name it, we played it. It was during this time that Miss Mussel developed a pathological hatred of the euphonium and its countermelody stardom while the lowly horns were stuck on off-beats and doubled by the alto saxophones. Ugh.

About 15 years ago, a 3 cd set of 100 Greatest Marches or similar ended up in Miss Mussel’s possession, most likely due to the fact that you could get 100 SONGS FOR $6.99!!! and that’s how Lassus Trombone got on the radar.

While we’re on the topic of marching bands, this little video is absolutely hilarious. Yes, it has been posted before here but it never fails to amuse.

Like this? Why not try:

• Boo etc
• Quiz #25 Second Clue Set
• Quiz #25 Left, Right, Left

Here are the final set of clues for this week’s Quiz.

• The composer attended CCM in Cincinnati
• The title of the piece contains the name of the featured instrument
• One of the composer’s legacies was the invention of the smear.
• He was not a gynaecologist.

Have another listen and don’t forget to send in your guess by today at midnight EST. [composer, name and date of composition or some combination thereof.]

Like this? Why not try:

• Quiz #25: Drumroll Please
• Quiz #25 Left, Right, Left
• Quiz #25 First Clue Set

Have another listen and contemplate the following clues. You can to go to your Zen place and wait for the answer to come to you or just invite your dad over for dinner. That strategy has worked for one guesser so far, so anything is possible.

1. The composer’s father was an established publisher of religious music and thought the trombone was too evil an instrument for a righteous person to play.
2. The composer fell in love with an exotic dancer to whom he proposed via mail. [not really a clue but too great to leave out]
3. This piece was a favourite of John Phillips Sousa
4. The compoaser was president of the American Bandmasters Association from 1941 to 1946.
5. Ask your friends who were band geeks in college. They’ll sort you out after listening to 3 or 4 beats.

If you need to phone a friend, try this person, or this one, or maybe this one.

Like this? Why not try:

• Quiz #25 Second Clue Set
• Quiz #25 Left, Right, Left
• Boo etc

In the first batch of clues, a bonus point was given for the person who could name the author of this über-dense quote: “as paradoxically inimical to the cultural category of art it nevertheless contributed to, relied upon and heightened in so significant a manner.” When Miss Mussel has to get her dictionary out at word number three, her mind goes instantly to two possible choices. Edward Said and Theodor Adorno. Since Mahler doesn’t have much to do with orientalism and the like, that leaves our pal Teddy.

The date of composition for this piece was a trick question because Mahler died before it was completed. He left orchestrated parts for the first and third movements and sketches of the others. Several people have had a crack at completing the score but the version by Deryck Cooke is the most commonly performed.

While Mahler was writing his final symphony, he was overcome with the grief of losing his beloved wife Alma to young architect Walter Gropius. Tragic notes in the margin illustrate Mahlers internal turmoil and correspond with specific events in the score:

The Devil dances it with me / Madness take me, cursed one! / Destroy me, that I forget that I am! / that I cease to be, that I de… [das ich ver… ]’, at the end: ‘You alone know what it means! … Ah! Farewell my lyre!’).

Someone else is wearing the Yellow Jersey this week, meaning they are in top spot after 3 weeks of Quiz play. There are seven remaining weeks until the prizes are awarded, so still plenty of time to have a go.

Like this? Why not try:

• In A Debating Mood
• Quiz #24: Second Clue Set
• Britten: Sinfonia da Requiem

Miss Mussel fell of the face of the earth for two days, so this week’s quiz is in a bit of a shambles. To all of you that were not able to be productive on Wednesday due to lack of quiz, please accept Miss Mussel’s sincerest apologies. She was busy trying to convince American border patrol officers that they should tell her how they profile drug smugglers, in the interests of journalism etc. You can imagine how well that went over.

OK….here is the second batch of clues. A few more people worked it out after Tuesday’s hints. Have another listen, just because the track is lovely, and give some thought to the following:

1. Yesterday Miss Mussel described the sample as the “entire whole movement.” Embarassing tautology aside, this is significant because usually this composer is much less brief. As in “has been known to take 90 minutes to get his point across.”
2. The date of composition is a bit of a trick question.
3. There are currently several versions of this piece in circulation. Only the first and third movements are common to eacht.

Put the composer, name of piece, movement and/or date of composition into an email message and send it to OMHQ.

The quiz will remain open until Friday at midnight EST. Answers sometime at the weekend.

Best of luck!

Like this? Why not try:

• Quiz #24: First Clue Set
• Quiz #24: Here’s One I Made Earlier
• Béla Bartók: Music For Strings, Percussion and Celeste

No guesses yesterday. Miss Mussel is sure that most of you know who the composer is but going through his entire oeuvre and eliminating all possibilities via your CD collection would be a mammoth undertaking. [FREE CLUE ALERT *ahem*]

The following should help you narrow it down a bit.

1. The sample is the entire whole movement.
2. The composer’s work has been described as “as paradoxically inimical to the cultural category of art it nevertheless contributed to, relied upon and heightened in so significant a manner.“
3. Two of the movements were premiered in Vienna in 1924 however it would be 40 more years before the first complete performance was mounted.

Bonus Point: name the author of the quote in #2.

Guesses as to the composer’s name, title of piece and date of composition to hello@theomniscientmussel.com.* There is one point available for each part of the answer plus an additional bonus for writing in before the final clues are revealed, so guessing it worth it.

*Not a typo. The email meltdown is fixed.

Like this? Why not try:

• Quiz #24: Second Clue Set
• Béla Bartók: Music For Strings, Percussion and Celeste
• Gyorgy Ligeti: Romanian Concerto

In the meantime, click on the triangle to hear this week’s sample. Clues tomorrow and Weds.
Newcomers: there are prizes for a correctly guessing the composer, date, title and (if applicable) movement. Two weeks are completed already but there is still plenty of time to catch up to the leaders.

Send your answers here.

Please note that email @theomniscientmussel.com is still not 100% reliable. An announcement will be posted when everything is back on track. In the meantime, please use the link in this post.

Happy guessing everyone!

Like this? Why not try:

• Quiz #24: Second Clue Set
• Béla Bartók: Music For Strings, Percussion and Celeste
• Gyorgy Ligeti: Romanian Concerto

This week’s piece is: Short Ride In A Fast Machine by John (Coolidge) Adams written in 1986.

The other similarly-named American composer mentioned in yesterday’s clues is John Luther Adams, styled by Alex Ross as “one of the most original thinkers of the new century.”

So….no slouch then.

Here is Short Ride In A Fast Machine on…err…gamelan as part of an education project done by the LSO St Luke’s at the Barbican in London.

Like this? Why not try:

• Boo etc
• Quiz #25: Drumroll Please
• 12th Century Helpdesk

Ok, now that we’ve got that out of the way….on to the last set of clues.

1. A few sources have mentioned that this is the encore most often played by American orchestras.
2. There is another composer with the same first and last name as well as two American presidents.
3. The composer had this to say about the title, “You know how it is when someone asks you to ride in a terrific sports car, and then you wish you hadn’t?”

You’ve got til today at midnight EST to chime in with any or all of the name of the composer, title of piece and date of composition.

Happy listening!

Like this? Why not try:

• Quiz #23 First Clues
• Quiz #23 Exemplar
• Come On Then, Have A Guess

In the meantime, click on the pink triangle to your left and listen again while you consider the following clues.

1. The composer has played the clarinet for a Big 5 orchestra
2. His first name is one syllable but it does not rhyme with cleave.
3. In the year this piece was composed, the first Metroid game was released by Nintendo

There’s still on bonus point to be had for getting your answer in today before midnight but the contest doesn’t officially close until midnight tomorrow.

Like this? Why not try:

• Quiz #23 Exemplar
• Quiz #23 Second Clue Set
• Come On Then, Have A Guess

Have a listen to the sample. Clues to follow tomorrow and the next day. Pop your guesses in a note including the name of composer, title of piece and date of composition for a chance to win fabulous, life-changing prizes. Remember, you can get extra points for answering before the clues are given.

This quiz set lasts for a further nine weeks, so it’s worth making a guess even if you’re not entirely sure.

Good luck and have fun…..those stocks are sure rebound at some point in the future. They always do. Unless the company goes bankrupt. Maybe it’s best not to nominate Miss Mussel to be your broker.

Like this? Why not try:

• Quiz #23 First Clues
• Quiz #23 Second Clue Set
• Come On Then, Have A Guess

This week’s piece is Les Barricades Misterieuses by François Couperin (1668-1733), written in 1716-17 as part of his second book of pieces for harpsichord. Couperin was born into a family of organists and was appointed to a position at the court of Louis XIV in 1693. The post was a jobshare with three other organists, which meant he only had to work the first three months of the year.

The rest of the time he devoted to composing and teaching, an effort that resulted in him being the regarded as one of the best in France in both disciplines. His peers thought enough of Couperin to make him the dedicatee of many of their compositions.

The bonus point for this week’s quiz was for the artist. Murray Perahia and Grigory Solokov were put forward but alas the correct answer is Alexandre Tharaud from his 2007 album Tic Toc Choc. If you don’t have it in your collection, you should otherwise your CD cabinet will live out its days as an unfulfilled being and that’s just a bit sad.

The new quiz format means points are calculated over the entire 10 week period to determine the winners. It’s not a competition as such, more like all the fun of music school with some really great prizes instead of hours of practice or exams.

For those of you that are into such things, have a look at the leaderboard.

Otherwise, see yous all Monday for the second installment!

Like this? Why not try:

• Oops…
• Quiz #22: Clue One
• Aaaaand we’re back

Have another listen while you’re pondering these clues:

1. The composer’s job title was ‘ordinaire de la musique de la chambre du Roi.‘
2. In the year the composer was born, Dietrich Buxtehude became the organist at the Marienkirche in Lübeck.
3. Although the source is slightly dubious, someone has postulated that the title of the piece refers to all the harmonic suspensions. Musicologists have weighed in but its exact meaning remains a mystery.

One more set of clues tomorrow. In the meantime, send your guesses here

Like this? Why not try:

• Quiz #22: Behind The Curtain
• Quiz #22: Second Clues
• Quiz #22: Let’s Get This Party Started

Hope you all had a lovely summer doing whatever it is people do in the summertime in your corner of the universe. There are a few small behind-the-scenes technology changes this year as well as the newly revamped points system that should make it more fun for a broader swath of readers.

If you’re new to the quiz, here is a full rundown of how it all works.

The short version is: send in your guesses as to the composer, name of piece [movement if applicable] and date of composition to hello@theomniscientmussel.com by Wednesday at midnight EST for chance to win a some great prizes from Arkiv Music.

Nothing too aurally strenuous this week. It seemed like a better idea to ease into things rather than go all out straight away. Have a listen and if you’re not sure come back Tuesday and Wednesday for some clues.

Also, tell all your friends!

BONUS POINT:name the artist

Like this? Why not try:

• Friday Swag
• Quiz #22: Second Clues
• Quiz #22: Clue One

Here’s how it’s going to go down.

The current quiz season will run for 10 weeks. Each Monday, a movement or bit of a movement of a piece will be presented. You are then invited to write in with the following information:

1) Name of Composer
2) Title of Work
3) Date of Composition
4) Movement/Aria (if applicable)

This is all well and good if you are an art music superfan but what if things get a little muddy when you have to choose between Mozart and Haydn or you know every piece of chamber music ever written but not too much about opera? Not to worry. The prize system has been revamped and is points-based to help even the field.

Participants will get 1 point each for the 4 required bit of information, that way, if you can only guess the composer you still score.

Because the clues that are given on Tuesday and Wednesday make it easier to guess, those that respond on Monday without aid of clues will earn 2 additional points; Tuesday responders will earn 1 extra and Wednesday responders will not gain any.

A leaderboard will be kept and updated each Thursday so you can see where you stand.

So…gather some friends and give yourself a really corny team name like The Expositions, The Furry Violas or Miss Mussel personal pub quiz favourite: Norfolk & Chance and play each week to win!

Prizes
The top teams after 10 weeks win gift cards from Arkiv Music.
1st place: $100
2nd place: $75
3rd place: $50

Questions and/or comments?

Like this? Why not try:

• Quiz #23 Second Clue Set
• Quiz #23 First Clues
• Quiz #23 Exemplar

The OM Quiz is going on a summer hiatus. The blog will continue as normal and will hopefully include more essays and actual opinions “the state of things” rather than just links, cartoons et al. Books for the summer reading session are stacked high and mostly resemble those set aside for the Winter 08 session.

Your feedback on the quiz is most welcome in the comments or via email and will be taken into consideration for the new season starting sometime around Labour Day.

Thanks to all those who listened, played along and wrote in with anecdotes, random factoids and anything else that popped into mind. It’s been a pleasure discovering music with you.

Like this? Why not try:

• Quiz #23 Second Clue Set
• Quiz #23 First Clues
• Quiz #23 Exemplar

2) Miss Mussel stayed up til 7am Sunday morning making a website and hasn’t really been able to string more than four words together since. There’s no real content yet but you’re welcome to head over for a peak anyway.

Believe whichever scenario suits although Miss Mussel will say that learning PHP in help fora at 3am is possible but greatly reduces the chances that you will remember any of it the next day.

Apologies to Roger Miller, furnisher of the music for Quiz 21, for failing do it up properly. There were two people who responded with the correct answer and, given the relative obscurity of the piece, it seems only fair to publicly acknowledge Daniel J. Liss and Philip Amos.

As luck would have it, Mr Amos was the first to emerge from the Official OM Seed Corn Hat and so he can spend the summer ruminating over his choice of piece for an upcoming quiz or gleefully thinking of ways to spend his $20 credit at Arkiv.

So what was the piece? None other than Missa Brevis by British composer Paul Patterson written in 1985 and first performed by the Thomas Tallis Society in the same year. Further information on the Mass, in the form of a very helpful programme note can be found here.

The original recording Roger sent along was of the Epsom Chamber Choir however in the end, he decided to go with an EMI recording with the London Philharmonic Choir. Baton-wielder: Owain Arwel Hughes. Head to the jungle and buy your copy today! Act now, supplies are limited!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, it is time to step away from the direct mail copywriting gigs. Ugh.

Like this? Why not try:

• Quiz #21 Clue One
• Quiz #6 Pencils Down Everyone
• Quiz #6: Clue Two

Let’s just pretend these clues were posted at 9:30 to avoid a disconnect between reality and Miss Mussel’s imagination.

The final track has been added to the player. One person has written in with the answer so far. Send in yours to give him a run for his money.

The clues:
1) The piece was written in 1985 (that’s a freebie as penance for late posting)
2) The composer was commissioned by Kryzsztof Penderecki to write Luslawice Variations for solo violin, which was released by Tasmin Little recently as a free download
3) Trombone is the composer’s primary instrument, or at least the one he entered the RAM on.

Like this? Why not try:

• Quiz #21 Clue One
• Quiz #20: Pencils Down. That Includes You At The Back As Well.
• Quiz #8: In By A Nose

1) The composer was born in 1947 and, for the first time ever on the OM Quiz, is still drawing breath.
2) He wrote a series of fanfares for the inauguration of Chunnel.
3) You might find a staff listing at the Royal Academy in London to be of service. Or you could just ring up and pester the receptionist for the answer. Just don’t ask if her fridge is running.

Like this? Why not try:

• Quiz #21: Lost In The Post
• Quiz #21 Clue Two
• Quiz #18

Have a listen to the two tracks currently on the player and send those guesses in.

To help you along, Miss Mussel will say that if your cassock and surplice encased BFF lives in the UK, all the better.

Clues and more tracks tomorrow.

No relation but still worth a look:

• Toronto Symphony 2008/09 Season Highlights
• Osvaldo Golijov: Pasión según San Marcos Resources
• Oscar Peterson 1925-2007: Obits and Tributes List

Have a listen to this week’s mystery piece, as chosen by the winner of Quiz #17, Roger Miller, while you think it over.

There is something quite special about this piece, something different to any of the other twenty that have appeared so far. Tune in tomorrow to find out what, if you can’t guess already.

If you know anyone who wears a cassock and surplice on a regular basis, they are your new BFF, or at least until the Quiz closes at midnight EST on Weds.

All you need to do is send in the composer, name of piece and date of composition and your name will be placed in The Official OM Seed Corn Hat. The person whose name is first out receives a $20 credit at Arkiv or the chance to choose the mystery piece in the Autumn Quiz season.

Best of luck!

Like this? Why not try:

• Quiz #21: Lost In The Post
• Review: Grand Phil Choir/Bradley, Enns Modolo, Shaw, Watson
• Review: Jugendsängerfest

Notice anything interesting about the personnel?
Here’s a hint: The pianist released the album pictured below late last year.

Miss Mussel isn’t so taken with recordings on the whole but this one has her ear quite firmly in hand. To be perfectly honest, she is falling over herself to think of the superlative superlative with which to describe the album. Pick it up when you order the Poulenc. You will not be disappointed.

This video was on the blog circuit when the album was first released but here it is again just in case you missed it.

Like this? Why not try:

• Quiz #22: Behind The Curtain
• Aaaaand we’re back
• Friday Links

Quite a few people wrote in this week with the correct answer but the person whose name was drawn first out of the Official OM Seed Corn Hat was: Ian Goh. Well done to you, sir.

The mystery piece was Poulenc’s Sonata for Violin and Piano Op 119.

Reader Philip sends in the following: “[The sonata] was composed, after much badgering on the part of Ginette Neveu, over 1942 and 1943. It was published in 1944, but Poulenc revised it in 1949 in light of Neveu’s performances and suggestions made by her, and it was republished the same year. Poulenc himself still thought it was a pretty dismal effort. It was dedicated to Federico Garcia Lorca, which accounts for the very vaguely Spanish parts.”

So there you have it.

A bit of a trick in the first batch of clues. Miss Mussel said the piece was published in the same year FDR was elected. Your choices were 1932, 1936, 1940 and 1944. The last one is correct.

The composers posse mentioned in the second batch of clues was none other than Les Six.

According to Darius Milhaud, “[Collet] chose six names absolutely arbitrarily, those of Auric, Durey, Honegger, Poulenc, Tailleferre and me simply because we knew each other and we were pals and appeared on the same musical programmes, no matter if our temperaments and personalities weren’t at all the same! Auric and Poulenc followed ideas of Cocteau, Honegger followed German Romanticism, and myself, Mediterranean lyricism! (Ivry 1996)”

Like this? Why not try:

• Quiz #20 Clue Two
• Oops…
• Spine Tinglers: Maurizio

In keeping with the theme of this quiz so far, Miss Mussel is happy to report that the temperature today is a quite satisfactory 21 degrees.

And now the clues:
1) The sonata was commissioned/badgered out of [composer's name redacted] by Ginette Neveu.
2) The composer is better known for his chamber music for wind instruments
3) Our mystery man was placed in a composers posse by critic Henri Collet who referred to them as…well, the name he made up for them. Here’s a hint: It wasn’t Les Quarante Dix-Sept.

Like this? Why not try:

• Quiz #20: Pencils Down. That Includes You At The Back As Well.
• Spine Tinglers: Maurizio
• Beethoven Piano Sonata Op 111

Another track has been added to the player for your listening enjoyment.

Here is the first set of clues:
1) The piece is dedicated to Frederico Garcia Lorca
2) The composer was uncomfortable writing for solo strings and had destroyed two violin sonatas before settling on this one.
3) In the year this piece was published, Franklin Roosevelt won the US Presidential Election.

Like this? Why not try:

• Quiz #23 Second Clue Set
• Quiz #23 First Clues
• Quiz #23 Exemplar

All this sharing [not like that, RIAA] is as much Web 2.0 as it is a primal urge. Music is nothing if it is not shared. After all, how much greater is a great moment when someone else grasps its…erm… greatness?

communal/community/communicate/dot com - it’s far to late in the night to delve into a Latin root discussion. You can fill in the blanks for yourself while you try to avoid starting work for the day.

And now, this week’s mystery piece as chosen by the winner of Quiz #18 Michael Monroe.

Clues and another movement on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Write in with your answer before midnight EST Wednesday and your name will be put into the Official OM Seed Corn Hat. As if that wasn’t honour enough, one name will actually be drawn from said Official Hat, which will entitle the person registered to that name to a $20 credit at Arkiv or a chance to choose an upcoming mystery piece.

Miss Mussel is after name of composer, name of piece and year of composition. Any other pertinent facts/anecdotes are most welcome.

Like this? Why not try:

• Quiz #23 Second Clue Set
• Quiz #23 First Clues
• Quiz #23 Exemplar

Quiz #1: Giorgia from Operabouffe
Quiz #2: Giorgia from Operabouffe
Quiz #3: Frere Mussel/Jeff Matthews (co-winners due to technical difficulty)
Quiz #4: Giorgia from Operabouffe
Quiz #5: Richard Hiebert

Quiz #6: Roberto Corsi
Quiz #7: Jonathan Bellman
Quiz #8: Mark Kim
Quiz #9: Roger Miller
Quiz #10: Ian Goh

Quiz #11: Roger Miller
Quiz #12: Roger Miller
Quiz #13: Jessica Duchen
Quiz #14: William Hughes
Quiz #15: Philip Amos

Quiz #16: Daniel J Liss
Quiz #17: Roger Miller
Quiz #18: Michael Monroe
Quiz #19: Maurizio Ricci
Quiz #20: TBD

Spelled your name wrong? Have a link you would like included? Drop Miss Mussel a line

Like this? Why not try:

• Quiz #23 Second Clue Set
• Quiz #23 First Clues
• Quiz #23 Exemplar

Muggy summer in Southern Ontario started yesterday and it is all Miss Mussel can do to keep hydrated and pray for a breeze. One small bonus is that since there aren’t any screens and all the windows are flung wide open, it is possible to work on a tan while watching television.

The mystery piece this week, which admittedly wasn’t that much of a mystery, was the third Brandenburg Concerto by JS Bach BWV 1048 composed sometime before 1721. As near as Miss Mussel can make out, this is a re-issue of a 1984 recording originally issued on Erato.

Provenance aside, it’s quite a good recording with loads of shading, character and fancy Baroque stylings. It’s not available through Arkiv, so you’ll have to head to the jungle to make it part of your library. Even though the US dollar seems to be going the way of the ruble, £5 won’t put too big a dent in your wallet.

If £5 is a dealbreaker or you just can’t wait for the mail, Reader Roger informs us that there is a free, legally downloadable set available from Czech radio.

The Winner: The name that emerged first from the OM Seed Corn Hat was Maurizio Ricci.
The Prize: $20 credit at Arkiv or a chance to choose the mystery piece for an upcoming quiz.

To solve the clues: The six Brandenburg Concertos are concerti grossi, which means there are several soloists that sit in the orchestra. Their parts are not just obligatti, since the soloists are responsible for melodic material, rather than over-the-top decoration.

The catalogue number - BWV 1048 - is the same as the year of Oslo’s founding or thereabouts. That fount of all knowledge Wikipedia is less than clear on this. The structure of architectural and historical significance that shares a name with the Concerto is, of course, the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin.

Thanks to all that participated this week. There’s real cracker coming on Monday for the 20th quiz chosen by the winner of Quiz #17 Michael Monroe. As an advance for weekend readers, buy a violinist friend a drink tomorrow and you’ll have a favour to call in when you need it.

Like this? Why not try:

• Quiz #19 Clue Two
• Quiz #19 Clue One
• Quiz #19

Another track has been added to the player.

The clues are:
1) There is a structure of architectural and historical significance in Berlin that shares a name with this piece and its five cousins.
2) Miss Mussel has had some personal interaction with the composer.
3) If the catalogue number is read as a date, it is the year Oslo was founded.

Here’s the first batch of clues:

1) The composer has a one syllable surname
2) The piece is in a form that is no longer used, except when composers want to reference something really old-fashioned.
3) There are five other pieces in the set.

Yesterday’s sunny optimism has been overtaken by a dreary grey sky. As such, the next movement added to the player is perfect for reflecting on the meaning of life and other activities of the navel gazing variety. If it all proves to be too much, just flick back to Track I and toe tap that introspection away.

Send your answer when you get it.
Further clues and another movement tomorrow.

Like this? Why not try:

• Quiz #19 Clue Two
• Quiz #19 Envelope Please
• Quiz #19

As such, it seems that something a bit jolly is in order for this week.

Readers that write in with the name of the composer, title of piece, and date of composition will have their names put in the Official OM Seed Corn Hat for a chance to win either a $20 credit at Arkiv Music or the option of choosing the rep for an upcoming quiz.

Grab a cold beverage, crank up the stereo and get started on your ear tan with these rays of aural sunshine.

Like this? Why not try:

• Quiz #19 Envelope Please
• Quiz #19 Clue Two
• Quiz #19 Clue One

The answer: Rachmaninoff Preludes Op 32 No. 12 in G sharp minor composed in 1910
The artist: Young Canadian pianist Sarah Hagen
The contest winner: Michael Monroe of MMMusing
The prize: A choice of $20 credit at Arkiv or a chance to select the mystery piece for an upcoming quiz.

Thanks to all that participated. The audio for Quiz #19 will be up shortly. In the meantime, go have a laugh.

Like this? Why not try:

• Quiz #13 Victory Lap Awarded
• Quiz #18 Clue Two
• Quiz #18 Clue One

Have a listen while you work out the following clues.
1) The composer’s handspan was the subject of an article in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine in October 2006.
2) He gave his last concert in Knoxville in 1943
3) The piece shares a key signature with the opus mate it is closest to.

If you still need help, there are plenty of piano types who can give you a hand.

Like this? Why not try:

• Quiz #18 Clue One
• Quiz #18: Better Late Than Never
• Quiz #13 Victory Lap Awarded