University Challenge

[ardcarp]

Shame there are so many postgrads though - our team was entirely made up of undergraduates.

Yes that is a trend; and the average age of teams seems to have crept up accordingly. OTOH one wouldn't want to be 'age-ist' and exclude certain institutions, e.g. The Open University, or other universities which are happy to accept more mature undergraduates.

I think the programme was probably conceived as a quiz show for young undergraduate students.

[DracoM]

" I think the programme was probably conceived as a quiz show for young undergraduate students. "

I took part in it under exactly those regs. Not a post-grad in sight = or interested AFAIR.

[LHC]

Oh dear, Sussex have just managed an ignominious double.

They are reputed to have the lowest ever score of the Bamber Gascoigne era with a score of just 10 points, and have now just managed to equal that score, and thereby also achieve the lowest score of the Paxman era.

[AuntDaisy]

Oh dear, Sussex have just managed an ignominious double.
They are reputed to have the lowest ever score of the Bamber Gascoigne era with a score of just 10 points, and have now just managed to equal that score, and thereby also achieve the lowest score of the Paxman era.

At one point I thought they would end up negative, so +10 might be a positive.
Birmingham did well - I could see them getting a decent score even against stronger opponents.

Just checked on iPlayer and the BBC webpage has something of a spoiler for the music question...
Very disappointed that Jeremy P didn't dress appropriately (again) for "There Is Nothin' Like A Dame".

[cloughie]

Shame there are so many postgrads though.

They’re probably training to be professional celebrities - look out for the first to be on Strictly!

[BBMmk2]

They’re probably training to be professional celebrities - look out for the first to be on Strictly!

Indeed!

A bunch of thickoes, Sussex are. Between us, me and MrsBBM knew quite a few of the answers.

[LHC]

At one point I thought they would end up negative, so +10 might be a positive.
Birmingham did well - I could see them getting a decent score even against stronger opponents.

Just checked on iPlayer and the BBC webpage has something of a spoiler for the music question...
Very disappointed that Jeremy P didn't dress appropriately (again) for "There Is Nothin' Like A Dame".

Indeed, for most of the programme they were stuck on -5. Having struggled back to a full 15 points, with a few minutes to go they managed yet another incorrect interruption to move them back to their final total of 10. A truly dire performance, even if Birmingham were quite good.

[Nick Armstrong]

Extraordinary generator of random wrong musical answers by a member of the St Andrew’s team this evening who seemed to fancy (erroneously) that he knew about the subject…

[Ein Heldenleben]

Extraordinary generator of random wrong musical answers by a member of the St Andrew’s team this evening who seemed to fancy (erroneously) that he knew about the subject…

Is it just me or have the standard of classical music answers got better in the last few years . Perhaps because teams have realised it’s worth having someone who knows about it because it’s an easy 25 points - possibly more as there are often other music related questions elsewhere - like the Massenet earlier .
I have also noticed that the music questions are getting harder . They used to be really easy - obvious clips from warhorses - now there are occasionally questions that I can’t answer - like Terry Riley last night. I thought it was Steve Reich.
What’s really weird was the American captain identified the Goldbergs after 5 notes (even though he could have heard the whole clip ) , guessed correctly at a fairly obscure piece of Debussy but then couldn’t identify the Pathetique . Possibly the second most famous Beethoven piano sonata !
His guess at Shostakovich was hilarious but strangely appropriate- it still sounds modern…

[Nick Armstrong]

Is it just me or have the standard of classical music answers got better in the last few years . Perhaps because teams have realised it’s worth having someone who knows about it because it’s an easy 25 points - possibly more as there are often other music related questions elsewhere - like the Massenet earlier .
I have also noticed that the music questions are getting harder . They used to be really easy - obvious clips from warhorses - now there are occasionally questions that I can’t answer - like Terry Riley last night. I thought it was Steve Reich.
What’s really weird was the American captain identified the Goldbergs after 5 notes (even though he could have heard the whole clip ) , guessed correctly at a fairly obscure piece of Debussy but then couldn’t identify the Pathetique . Possibly the second most famous Beethoven piano sonata !
His guess at Shostakovich was hilarious but strangely appropriate- it still sounds modern…

Agreed. (And Riley stumped me too)

[ardcarp]

And me. Mrs A and I both mistakenly muttered 'Steve Reich'.

That opening of the Goldbergs is strange isn't it? Instantly recognisable, almost after the first note. A bit like the first chord of (Beethoven's) Pathetique or of Mozart's G minor Symphony. It's not just the pitch but the unique texture, I suppose. Any more openings that prompt instant realisation?

[Ein Heldenleben]

And me. Mrs A and I both mistakenly muttered 'Steve Reich'.

That opening of the Goldbergs is strange isn't it? Instantly recognisable, almost after the first note. A bit like the first chord of (Beethoven's) Pathetique or of Mozart's G minor Symphony. It's not just the pitch but the unique texture, I suppose. Any more openings that prompt instant realisation?

Beethoven’s fifth - first note . Tutti G . Orchestration unmistakable
Overture to Die Meistersinger- instantly recognisable from first chord
Pastoral Symphony - Drone in lower strings on F and C
Dozens of others but it’s bragging and spoiling others’ contributions

Funnily enough I didn’t get the Goldberg’s from the first note as it was played on an historically uninformed instrument and my ear instinctively rebelled in protest.
At least that’s my excuse…..

[ardcarp]

I did get it...but then Hewitt is my favourite exponent. (I think Glen Gould was the pianist on UC.)
I'm so un-HIPP.

[Ein Heldenleben]

I did get it...but then Hewitt is my favourite exponent. (I think Glen Gould was the pianist on UC.)
I'm so un-HIPP.

Did you get it on the first two note incorrect answer or the second five note correct answer ?

[Boilk]

Beethoven’s fifth - first note . Tutti G . Orchestration unmistakable

I think "unmistakable" in that example is wrong, as the rapid cut-off after such a short initial note (quarter of a second?) means it would not register as Beethoven 5 for most people, even those blessed with perfect pitch. I think one needs slightly longer durations that begin a work, and the longer the first note/chord the more 'unmistakable' it gets, for example:

- Perfect fifth horns opening Janacek's Sinfonietta
- Low strings chord opening Act III of Wagner's Tristan
- Long orchestral unison opening Beethoven's Egmont overture
- High bassoon note opening Le Sacre