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Bite-Sized Trivia, V
(Wherein our hero encounters perils of varying assortment in his/her quest.)
By Tom Heaton
Hot fun in the summertime! That's right - forget what your calendar says - Memorial Day is the unofficial start of summer. So, slap on that sunscreen, refill your drink of choice and sit back in your beach chair. It might look to others like you're slacking off but you're really preparing for trivia combat. So, mighty warrior, gird thy loins!
(All information taken from Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Music and Musicians, 1999 edition, and other sources.)
DES PREZ, JOSQUIN
When it comes to Renaissance-era composers, Josquin is near the top in terms of output and influence. However, the average classical music lover knows little if anything about this master. Here's your chance to shine! - His first name, Josquin (pro. "zhahs-KAH(N)", is Flemish for "Little Joseph".
- There were so many variations in the spelling of his name during his own lifetime that his grave marker shows it as "Josse de Pres."
- For about 13 years (age 18-31), he had a regular job of singing at the Milan Cathedral.
- After his stint as church singer, he went into royal service, first under Duke Sforza and later under the Duke's brother after the Duke was assassinated.
- For about 8 years, he was a singer in the papal choir under Popes Innocent VIII and Alexander VI.
- His refinement of counterpoint is thought to be a precursor to the pefection of the technique brought about by J. S. Bach.
DOHNANYI, ERNST VON
Renowned chiefly for his conducting ability, he also enjoyed success as a pianist, composer and teacher. He also has a famous grandson. - At the age of 19, his symphony won the Hungarian Millennium Prize (celebrating 1,000 years of Hungary history)
- The following year (1897), he made his debut as a concert pianist in Berlin and then proceeded to London and a series of successful concerts in the United States.
- While serving as a teacher at the Royal Academy of Music (Budapest), he was also named chief conductor of the Budapest Philharmonic.
- In 1931, he became music director for Hungarian Radio!
- The turmoil of the coming European war forced him to resign his radio job.
- One of his sons, Hans von Dohnanyi, was involved in the plot of German generals to assassinate Hitler - the plot failed and young Dohnanyi was executed.
- At the end of WWII, rumors circulated that he had used influence with the Nazis to thwart the careers of Bela Bartok and other musicians. Investigations cleared him.
- In 1949, he emigrated to the United States and became a member of the faculty of Florida State University (composer-in-residence).
- The famous grandson I mentioned earlier? Christoph von Dohnanyi - eminent conductor!
DOMINGO, PLACIDO
Before there was a "3 Tenors" CD (and all the sequels therefrom), Domingo was a major operatic force. - This Spanish-born tenor comes from a musical family - both of his parents were professional singers.
- His musical parents liked Mexico City so much that they relocated there and began a professional singing company - little Placido joined them when he was 7 and began appearing in productions.
- He made his operatic debut in 1959 - the role of Borsa in "Rigoletto".
- Barely two years later, he made his American debut in "Lucia di Lammermoor" - Dallas Civic Opera.
- He was a member of the Hebrew National Opera for 2 years!
- At the age of 25, he made two debuts with the Metropolitan Opera in New York - "Cavalleria Rusticana" (outdoor performance) and "Adrianna Lecouvreur" (on-stage).
- He hasn't limited himself to the opera stage - he has sung for films, television and a few pop recordings (remember "Perhaps Love" with John Denver?). He has also established a considerable reputation as a conductor.
- The "3 Tenors" recording rejuvenated his singing career, as well as those of Luciano Pavarotti and Jose Carreras.
DONIZETTI, GAETANO
A fairly important Italian opera/ballet composer, he was considerably more popular in his lifetime than he is now. - He was born into a poor family - his father obtained the position of caretaker in a local pawnshop.
- At the age of 9, Gaetano was enrolled in a music school run through charity. There he studied singing, harpsichord, harmony and counterpoint.
- He had written five operas before experiencing success with the public - the winner was based on the life of Peter the Great, Czar of Russia.
- He avoided the mandatory military service when a rich woman paid the necessary fee to the government so that Gaetano could continue composing.
- Getting out of military service would prove to be a turning point for his career - he wrote nearly 30 operas over the next 10 years and established himself as a master of the genre.
- Success, however, didn't mean he was clear of trouble. One of his operas was censored by the Queen of Italy over libretto problems. The opera, Maria Stuarda, was "fixed" and later performed as "Buondelmonte."
- Upon moving to Vienna in 1842, the Emperor appointed him Court Composer/Master.
- Before he turned 50, he began to experience the debilitating effects of a dormant case of syphillis - eventually going insane and being committed to an asylum.
DUTOIT, CHARLES
First and foremost, this conductor's last name is pronounced "doo-TWAH." If "doo-TOYT" comes out of your mouth, DO NOT pass "Go," etc. Quickly slip out the back door and send regrets to your hostess for your sudden departure. Make up an excuse and then practice, practice, practice! - Although his name sounds French, Dutoit is actually of Swiss descent. His mother's ancestry includes German, English and Brazilian!
- Whereas some have learned the art of conducting in classrooms, Dutoit learned simply by observing conductor Ernest Ansermet during rehearsals.
- He has held playing/conducting positions with Bern Symphony, the Zurich Radio Orchestra, the Mexico City National Orchestra, and the Gothenburg Sympony (Sweden.) In 1977, he was hired to be music director at the Montreal Symphony.
- In 1983, he became music director of the Minnesota Orchestra while also serving as principal conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra during summers!
- He has been married three times. Wife #2 was famed Argentinian pianist Martha Argerich.
ELGAR, EDWARD
In the musical realm, Elgar was an Englishman's Englishman. Although Handel regarded himself as an Englishman, he was a German citizen who just happened to live and work most of his life in England. Elgar, on the other hand, was as English as buttered scones with tea. - At the age of 22, Elgar was conductor of the Worcester Glee Club AND was in charge of the concert band at the local insane asylum.
- After he married in 1889, he conducted orchestras and taught at the University of Birmingham.
- His "Imperial March" was written for the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria.
- His most famous orchestral work is what amounts to a riddle - the Enigma Variations. Each variation on the theme has initials or nicknames indicating Elgar's friends.
- The "Enigma" theme, per Elgar's own words, is supposed to be a counterpoint to a "familiar tune." In spite of thousands of guesses from the public, Elgar himself never identified the "familiar tune" in question, so the 'enigma' remains!
- Every high school or college graduate hears at least one Elgar piece - the Pomp & Circumstance March #1 is considered a staple at virtually every graduation ceremony. The marches (there were 5 in all) were NOT written for that kind of occasion, though: they were composed for military reviews/parades!
- The folks at Disney liked the P&C marches enough to cobble them together in Fantasia 2000!
- Elgar achieved an incredible degree of recognition and respect for his work, even though he had had NO formal training! He would later receive honorary degrees from: Cambridge, Oxford, Aberdeen, Yale and the University of Pittsburgh!
- Not-quite-fact: The bust used for Sgt. Pepper on the cover of the Beatles' historic album bears an uncanny resemblance to a young Elgar. (While the bust may not have been modeled after Elgar, just making a link between the two elements will certainly be impressive and will show your diversity. "How divine! He can easily move between Britannia's best loved 19th century composer and the 1967 album by which all succeeding rock releases have been measured! Yes, I'll have another mimosa!")
ENESCO, GEORGES
This famous Roumanian musician went from rags to riches to rags. - He showed musical talent early - playing piano at 4 and then took violin lessons from a neighboring Gypsy.
- He made his formal debut as a violinst at the age of 8.
- His talent ensured his enrollment at the Academy of Music in Vienna. After graduating, he furthered his studies with Gabriel Faure, Jules Massenet and Ambroise Thomas!
- In addition to violin mastery, he also studied (and gained proficiency) with the cello, organ and piano.
- The success of his two Roumanian Rhapsodies won him an appointment as court violinist to the Queen of Roumania!
- He was wont to make public appearances in a multiple capacity: conductor, composer and performer. In fact, his last performance was with the New York Philharmonic - in it, he conducted his own work, and played the piano for one work, the violin for another!
- In spite of his success, his last years were fraught with financial hardship and declining health. He died broke and alone in Paris in 1955.
Read on! FAURE through FRANCK...
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