music – Page 2 – Quizology Online

Gallimaufry V—Answers

Here are the answers to the questions from my earlier post.

Today, more gallimaufry — ‘a confused jumble or medley of things’.

Snow leopard aka ounce.
Image Wikimedia Commons

One

Panthera uncia, native to Central and South Asia, inhabits mountain ranges like the Altai, Hindu Kush, and Himalayas. What is its name in English and by what other name, which could be confused with a measure, was it known?

Answer: Snow leopard; ounce.

The snow leopard (Panthera uncia) is a large cat native to Central and South Asia’s mountain ranges. It is listed as Vulnerable due to poaching and habitat destruction, with fewer than 10,000 mature individuals remaining. The snow leopard is legally protected in most of its range and is culturally significant in Kyrgyzstan.

Two

The acronym SONAR means what?

Answer: Sound navigation and ranging. (SO(und) NA(vigation and) R(anging).

sonar
noun [mass noun] a system for the detection of objects under water by emitting sound pulses and detecting or measuring their return after being reflected: [as modifier] a weak sonar signal. – [count noun] an apparatus used in sonar: we reduced the sensitivity of our scanning sonars. – the method of echolocation used in air or water by animals such as whales and bats: the fishing nets are detectable by dolphin sonar. – ORIGIN 1940s: from so(und) na(vigation and) r(anging), on the pattern of radar. — Oxford English Dictionary iOS App ©Oxford English Dictionary.

Three

The name of a 2003 Grammy Award winner and the title of a short story by Edgar Allan Poe published in 1839 are linked by a single word. Can you supply the word and the full title of Poe’s short story?

Answer: Usher; The Fall of the House of Usher.

Edgar Allan Poe’s Gothic fiction short story, The Fall of the House of Usher, delves into themes of madness, family and isolation. In 2003, Usher won his second consecutive Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for U Don’t Have to Call.

Four

What was the name of Captain Robert Falcon Scott’s ship during his ill-fated Antarctic expedition?

Answer: Terra Nova.

The Terra Nova Expedition, led by Captain Robert Falcon Scott, aimed to reach the South Pole and conduct scientific research. Although they achieved this goal on January 17, 1912, they arrived second—a month after Amundsen. Scott and his team tragically died on the Ross Ice Shelf during their return journey, leading to debate about the expedition’s organisation and management.

Five

In December 1969, on a television programme, a Norwegian Blue was purchased, and then an attempt was made to return it. What was the name that this sketch is known by, and in what TV programme was it featured?

Answer: ‘Dead Parrot sketch’; Monty Python’s Flying Circus.

The ‘Dead Parrot sketch’ from Monty Python’s Flying Circus satirises poor customer service. It features a customer, Mr Praline, arguing with a shopkeeper about a dead parrot. Mr Praline complains about a deceased parrot he bought. The shopkeeper, using euphemisms for death, sends him to his brother’s shop in Bolton for a refund, but Praline discovers it’s the same shop. The shopkeeper, claiming it’s a prank, is interrupted by a Colonel who orders the sketch to stop.

Gallimaufry V

Today, more gallimaufry — ‘a confused jumble or medley of things’.

One

Two

The acronym SONAR means what?

Three

Four

What was the name of Captain Robert Falcon Scott’s ship during his ill-fated Antarctic expedition?

Five

Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

Hard Rock Café—Answers

Here are the answers to my earlier questions.

Today’s questions all pertain to February 9th.

One

Born in 1909, this Hollywood star made her film debut in Down Argentine Way alongside Don Ameche and Betty Grable. Who was she and where was she born?

Answer: Carmen Miranda; Portugal

Carmen Miranda, a Portuguese-born Brazilian singer, dancer and actress, gained fame in Brazil as a samba dancer. She became a Hollywood star in the 1940s, known for her exotic image and fruit-hat outfits, and popularised Brazilian music and Latin culture in the United States. Despite her success, she struggled with the stereotypical ‘Brazilian Bombshell’ image and later focused on nightclub appearances and television.

Two

On this day in 1893, Giuseppe Verdi’s final opera premiered at La Scala in Milan. What was its title?

Answer: Falstaff.

Giuseppe Verdi’s comic opera Falstaff is based on Shakespeare’s The Merry Wives of Windsor and incorporates scenes from Henry IV, Part 1 and Part 2. While not as popular as his earlier works, it’s now a staple of the operatic repertoire, championed by conductors like Toscanini, Karajan, Solti and Bernstein. Following its first performance, Verdi made numerous changes to the music resulting in a somewhat fluid score.

Three

On this day in what year was the Davis Cup established and which teams competed in the inaugural tournament?

Answer: 1900; USA and Great Britain (or British Isles*).

Davis Cup began in 1900 as a competition between USA and Great Britain. It’s now the world’s largest annual international team competition in sport, with 157 nations entering in 2025. — Davis Cup

*Some sources, for example Encyclopædia Britannica, list the first competition to have been between the USA and the British Isles; others, such as the official competition website, show Great Britain.

Four

Born in 1940, this novelist is the first writer to win the Booker Prize twice – in 1983 and 1999. His first win was for Life & Times of Michael K and his second for Disgrace. He’s also the second writer from his nationality, after Nadine Gordimer, to win the Nobel Prize for Literature. Who is he, and what is his nationality?

Answer: J.M. Coetzee; South African.

J.M. Coetzee, a South African-Australian author, is a Nobel Prize winner and recipient of numerous literary awards. He was born in Cape Town but now resides in Adelaide, South Australia.

Five

Who, born in New York City in 1942, was the most successful female songwriter on the UK singles charts from 1962 to 2005?

Answer: Carole King

Carole King is an American singer-songwriter and musician. She wrote or co-wrote numerous hit songs and achieved success as a solo performer, releasing 25 albums and selling over 75 million records worldwide. Today’s post title refers to her song Hard Rock Café from her 1977 album Simple Things.

Hard Rock Café

Today’s questions all pertain to February 9th.

One

Born in 1909, this Hollywood star made her film debut in Down Argentine Way alongside Don Ameche and Betty Grable. Who was she and where was she born?

Two

On this day in 1893, Giuseppe Verdi’s final opera premiered at La Scala in Milan. What was its title?

Three

On this day in what year was the Davis Cup established and which teams competed in the inaugural tournament?

Four

Five

Who, born in New York City in 1942, was the most successful female songwriter on the UK singles charts from 1962 to 2005?

Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

What the Dickens—Answers

Here are the answers to the questions I posed in my earlier post.

Each of these questions relates to today’s date, February 7th.

One

British novelist Charles Dickens was born on this day in 1812. But what does the word ‘Dickens’ refer to in the phrase ‘What the dickens’?

Answer: Devil.

dickens /ˈdɪkɪnz /  noun [in singular] informal, dated used for emphasis, or to express annoyance or surprise when asking questions: what the dickens is going on? they work like the dickens. – ORIGIN late 16th century: a euphemism for ‘devil’, probably a use of the surname Dickens. — Oxford English Dictionary

Two

After the death of King Hussein in 1999, his son Abdullah II became king in what country, and what countries border it?

Answer: Jordan; (bordering countries are) Iraq, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Syria, West Bank.

Syria is to the north; Iraq to the east; Saudi Arabia to the southeast and south; Israel to the west; and the West Bank to the west. There is also a maritime border with Egypt on the Gulf of Aqaba to the south.

Three

On this day, Michael Romanov became Tsar of Russia as Michael I and founded the Romanov dynasty. In what century was it founded? In what year did it end, and who was the last Tsar?

Answer: 17th century. 1917 and Nicholas II

Michael Romanov, elected Tsar of Russia in 1613 at age 16, initially relied on his mother’s relatives to restore order. His father, Philaret, returned from Polish captivity in 1619, becoming co-ruler and patriarch, and significantly influencing the government until his death in 1633. Michael’s reign (1613-1645) saw increased European contact, financial reforms, and the strengthening of serfdom. The dynasty ended with the Russian Revolution of 1917 when Nicholas II abdicated and, with his family, was later executed.

Four

The Beatles arrived in the United States for the first time on this day in 1964 in what the press named the ‘British Invasion’. What single gave the Beatles their first Billboard Hot 100 number one?

Answer: I Want to Hold Your Hand.

It became the Beatles’ first US number-one single when it topped the Billboard Hot 100 in February 1964, kicking off full-blown Beatlemania in America. They held the number one spot for a then-record fourteen straight weeks, from February 1st through May 2nd, and on April 4th, the Beatles held the top five positions in the Hot 100 simultaneously.

Five

Walt Disney’s Pinocchio premiered in 1940. Who wrote the novel it was based on?

Answer: Carlo Collodi.

Pinocchio, a 1940 Disney animated film, follows the adventures of a wooden puppet who becomes a real boy. The film is renowned for its animation, storytelling, and music. The film won two Academy Awards: Best Original Score and Best Original Song for When You Wish Upon a Star. This made it the first Disney film to win either category.

What the Dickens

Each of these questions relates to today’s date, February 7th.

One

British novelist Charles Dickens was born on this day in 1812. But what does the word ‘Dickens’ refer to in the phrase ‘What the dickens’?

Two

After the death of King Hussein in 1999, his son Abdullah II became king in what country, and what countries border it?

Three

On this day, Michael Romanov became Tsar of Russia as Michael I and founded the Romanov dynasty. In what century was it founded? In what year did it end, and who was the last Tsar?

Four

Five

Walt Disney’s Pinocchio premiered in 1940. Who wrote the novel it was based on?

Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

Fingal’s Cave—Answers

Here are the answers to the questions posed in my earlier post.

Today’s first question, relates to a birth on February 3rd, has a musical theme and the subsequent questions follow on from it.

One

A German composer who was born this day in 1809 wrote an 1830 overture which has been credited with popularising Fingal’s Cave as a tourist destination. Who was the composer, and in what country is the cave located?

Answer: Felix Mendelssohn; Scotland.

Fingal’s Cave, popularised by Mendelssohn’s overture, inspired many 19th-century artists and writers, including Verne, Wordsworth, Keats, and Turner, and more recently Pink Floyd. Its unique basalt columns and echoing chambers captivated visitors like Sir Walter Scott and Queen Victoria. The cave continues to inspire modern artists, featuring in films and exhibitions.

Two

In a Beatles’ song, the lyrics in verses I and III respectively mention a barber showing photographs and a fireman with an hourglass. Where are these characters located?

Answer: Penny Lane.

Penny Lane, a Beatles song written by Paul McCartney and John Lennon, was inspired by a Liverpool street familiar to both. The song, evoking nostalgic childhood memories, was released in 1967 and topped the US Billboard Hot 100.

Three

An unexpected pairing led to this 1987 song, which has been described as ‘a spectacular blend of rock and opera, celebrating both the city of __ and the Olympic spirit with its grandiose composition’. What is both the name of the city and the song; and what are the names of the rock legend and world-famous soprano who formed the pairing?

Answer: Barcelona; Freddie Mercury and Montserrat Caballé

Freddie Mercury and Montserrat Caballé’s iconic song Barcelona was performed at the 1992 Olympics opening ceremony a year after Mercury’s death. The song, a collaboration between the rock legend and the operatic soprano, was recorded in 1987 and became a hit single. Mercury’s love for opera and his admiration for Caballé led to this memorable musical pairing.

Four

What place is in the title of a 1938 novel by Graham Greene and a 1974 song by Queen?

Answer: Brighton.

Both are set in Brighton, England. Brighton Rock is the title of both Greene’s novel and Queen’s song. Queen’s song, written by Brian May in 1973, features a famous guitar solo and was on the 1974 album Sheer Heart Attack. It gained renewed popularity after being featured in the 2017 film Baby Driver. Graham Greene’s 1938 novel is a murder thriller set in Brighton. It explores moral issues, class privilege, and evil.

Five

Sinfonia Antartica, which premiered in 1953 incorporated music from the 1948 film Scott of the Antarctic. Who composed Sinfonia Antartica?

Answer: Ralph Vaughan Williams.

Vaughan Williams composed his Seventh Symphony, Sinfonia Antartica, inspired by the musical score he had written for the film Scott of the Antarctic depicting Robert Falcon Scott’s ill-fated 1912 Terra Nova Expedition to the South Pole. The film, shot in Technicolour, follows Scott’s fundraising efforts, the expedition’s journey, and the tragic deaths of Scott and his team on their return journey from the pole.

Fingal’s Cave

Today’s first question, relates to a birth on February 3rd, has a musical theme and the subsequent questions follow on from it.

One

Two

In a Beatles’ song, the lyrics in verses I and III respectively mention a barber showing photographs and a fireman with an hourglass. Where are these characters located?

Three

Four

What place is in the title of a 1938 novel by Graham Greene and a 1974 song by Queen?

Five

Sinfonia Antartica, which premiered in 1953 incorporated music from the 1948 film Scott of the Antarctic. Who composed Sinfonia Antartica?

Good luck! The answers will be posted later.

Gallimaufry IV | Answers

Here are the answers to the questions from my earlier post.

Today, more gallimaufry — ‘a confused jumble or medley of things’.

Dobby, see question two.
Image Harry Potter Fandom

One

In July 1985, Live Aid was held simultaneously at two venues on either side of the Atlantic. What were the venues?

Answer: Wembley Stadium, London and JFK Stadium, Philadelphia

Live Aid, a benefit concert held simultaneously at Wembley Stadium in London and JFK Stadium in Philadelphia on July 13, 1985, was organised by Boomtown Rats frontman Bob Geldof and Ultravox vocalist Midge Ure. The event attracted an estimated 1.5 billion television viewers and raised millions of dollars for famine relief in Ethiopia.

Two

Dobby, the house-elf from Harry Potter, was in the news a couple of years ago when the National Trust asked fans not to leave memorabilia at the site of his grave at Freshwater West Beach, Pembrokeshire, Wales. What one item associated with Dobby and Harry Potter have fans been leaving?

Answer: Sock

Many fans have been leaving a sock for Dobby, referencing the fact that it was a sock Harry Potter used to trick Lucius Malfoy to set the house-elf free. Freshwater West, a ‘Site of Special Scientific Interest’, is home to large grey seals, harbour porpoises, and some of the world’s largest seabird populations. The National Trust asks visitors to leave no trace – no socks included.

Three

What creature, from Greek mythology, is being described here: ‘a creature with the head, arms, and torso of a man and the body and legs of a horse’?

Answer: Centaur

Centaurs, creatures from Greek mythology with the upper body of a human and the lower body of a horse, were known for their wild nature and inhabited various regions in Thessaly and beyond. They also appear in Roman mythology and medieval bestiaries. In modern fiction, centaurs appear in C.S. Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia and J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter.

Four

What song opens ‘We’re caught in a trap, I can’t walk out’?

Answer: Suspicious Minds

Mark James’s 1968 song Suspicious Minds initially failed to chart, but Elvis Presley later recorded it, transforming it into a number one hit and earning it a Grammy Hall of Fame induction.

Five

An African dictator who was in office as the President between January 1971 and April 1979 declared himself the uncrowned King of Scotland. Who was this dictator, and what country did he rule?

Answer: Idi Amin; Uganda

Idi Amin, a Ugandan military officer, ruled as a dictator from 1971 to 1979 after overthrowing President Milton Obote. His regime was marked by human rights abuses, economic collapse, and international isolation. Amin, who had become known as ‘The Butcher of Uganda’, was ousted by Tanzanian forces in 1979 and lived in exile until his death in 2003.

Gallimaufry IV

Today, more gallimaufry — ‘a confused jumble or medley of things’.

One

In July 1985, Live Aid was held simultaneously at two venues on either side of the Atlantic. What were the venues?

Two

Three

What creature, from Greek mythology, is being described here: ‘a creature with the head, arms, and torso of a man and the body and legs of a horse’?

Four

What song opens ‘We’re caught in a trap, I can’t walk out’?

Five

An African dictator who was in office as the President between January 1971 and April 1979 declared himself the uncrowned King of Scotland. Who was this dictator, and what country did he rule?

Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.