University Challenge

[ardcarp]

Indeed! But I thought the opera aria plus subsequent variations question was very hard for non-specialists. I'm afraid I didn't get Bellini.

In general I think the two-part questions (on whatever topic) are a bit unnecessary.

[Dave2002]

However, I did learn about the radius of convergence ... https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radius_of_convergence

I agree that the variations questions were hard.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Final a bit one sided, sadly. Peterhouse worthy winners, but maybe St John's not getting into their stride?

Yes - not exactly "nail-biting" was it! (Unless it was whilst waiting for St John's to get an answer correct.) A good start - for about five minutes it looked as if we might witness the first ever team winning on "Nil" points!

Peterhouse has the most annoying collection of individuals I can remember from any team, but by 'eck - they knew their stuff - and were excellent at working out "educated guesses", too. Everyone needs to get themselves to some orchestral concerts.

[Pabmusic]

...Everyone needs to get themselves to some orchestral concerts.

Yes, but those concerts don't have amplification and electronic twiddling with voices.*

And the 'songs' last more than 2-3 minutes.

* [Yes, I know, I'm not being comprehensive here.]

[ardcarp]

Peterhouse has the most annoying collection of individuals I can remember from any team

Oh fie, fie and thrice fie! The slightly camp blond genius was hysterical (even Paxo was amused) especially in contrast to the cool, unruffled she-captain.

[Pabmusic]

I'm not exaggerating very much when I say (to paraphrase Dr Tony Attwood):

University Challenge might well be renamed Spot The Aspie.

[Aspie = person with Asperger's Syndrome/Mild Autism/High Functioning Autism - or whatever you want to call it.]

[Nick Armstrong]

Oh fie, fie and thrice fie! The slightly camp blond genius was hysterical (even Paxo was amused) especially in contrast to the cool, unruffled she-captain.

Ah, Mr Paxman, I've been expecting you.



I suspect we will see more of Oscar and the icily poised Ms Hannah Rose Woods...

Indeed, the job applications have already started:





.


This was an interesting question (i.e. a non-maths one ) which I didn't get near solving but was impressed with the rapidity of the one who did (pure quick thinking):



And naturally, I didn't get 'Bellini' either.

The thing I was interested/glad to learn was that Schumann wrote a piano arrangement / variations on Beethoven 7 - I'd never heard of it.

[Alain Maréchal]

I am surprised that undergraduates of their wide education are able to recognise Braque when they see it, but not Rachmaninoff when they hear it.

[Nick Armstrong]

I am surprised that undergraduates of their wide education are able to recognise Braque when they see it, but not Rachmaninoff why they hear it.

Yes the Ravel / Rachmaninov sort of confusion was disappointing... but my impression was they made just as heavy weather of the double questions about artists & movements (Wyndham Lewis / Vorticism.... I'd never even heard of vorticism )

[MrGongGong]

Yes the Ravel / Rachmaninov sort of confusion was disappointing... but my impression was they made just as heavy weather of the double questions about artists & movements (Wyndham Lewis / Vorticism.... I'd never even heard of vorticism )

Sadly, most folks who are knowledgable about music are almost completely at sea when it comes to other artforms.
Equally many folks who would instantly recognise Rothko, Pollock et al would struggle to know anything about the music composed by their contemporaries and would be more likely to know about Harket than Feldman (which ever way it's spelt!)

[Alain Maréchal]

Sadly, most folks who are knowledgable about music are almost completely at sea when it comes to other artforms.
:

I suggest one does not have to be knowledgeable about music to recognise one of the most popular pieces of the twentieth century. The only part of the work that would have been more obvious was the opening of variation 18. I am not knowledgeable about many of the areas covered, but I could have an informed guess; there are often clues such as dates and nationalities.

I wonder if listening takes more time and effort than looking, although it should not. Perhaps my initial reaction was not well expressed. Why is music not as well-known as the visual arts, or any art form - not a rhetorical question, I really do mean "why?"

[MrGongGong]

I suggest one does not have to be knowledgeable about music to recognise one of the most popular pieces of the twentieth century. The only part of the work that would have been more obvious was the opening of variation 18. I am not knowledgeable about many of the areas covered, but I could have an informed guess; there are often clues such as dates and nationalities.

I wonder if listening takes more time and effort than looking, although it should not.

I think it's probably one of the "one of the most popular pieces of the first half of the twentieth century

Listening is a different experience to seeing
and
"knowing" and "naming" aren't the same thing at all (and there I run out of philosophical knowledge)

[MrGongGong]

A bit OT
but is anyone else unable to edit their posts?
Sorry for the typos in the previous one

[Nick Armstrong]

A bit OT
but is anyone else unable to edit their posts?
Sorry for the typos in the previous one

Can't see any (apart from the 'close quotes' after the sentence in bold). ...did you manage to edit after all? (I can go in if there's anything you'd like me to tweak )

[MrGongGong]

Can't see any (apart from the 'close quotes' after the sentence in bold). ...did you manage to edit after all? (I can go in if there's anything you'd like me to tweak )

Still can't edit? (on OSX Yosemite safari)
but YES the missing " and was going to take some of the bold away

So will investigate other browsers and feel free to delete this diversion