University Challenge

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Just caught up with a couple of these, had similar thoughts! (What was the Tchaikovsky again? Can't remember if I got it right!)

The "Entry into the Forest" from Nutcracker.

I found the Magnificats question in Friday's episode tough (other than the starter)...

Kicking myself over the Schubert - I knew the piece, and was humming along with it as it played, but could I remember the composer?! (I hazarded a forlorn guess at Haydn - but sort-of knew he hadn't written one. )

Deliberately missed the one with Service (the black-list still holds in this house). Did his team make it through to the next round?

No. (And 'twas he who, upon hearing the String Sextet extract from Verklaerte Nacht eagerly suggested "Bax" as a possible composer.)

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Why do supposedly "educated" people not know of the existence of Wyndham Lewis ?

Yes - 'though I was a bit stumped by that question, too, as I didn't know Lewis had worked as an official War Artist.

I think that the general blank faces in response to most questions about "Classical" Music - even of the CFM variety - from even the most elderly of these team members should give pause to those of us who express concern about the real Student teams' lack of knowledge of the repertoire.

[MrGongGong]

Yes - 'though I was a bit stumped by that question, too, as I didn't know Lewis had worked as an official War Artist.

I think that the general blank faces in response to most questions about "Classical" Music - even of the CFM variety - from even the most elderly of these team members should give pause to those of us who express concern about the real Student teams' lack of knowledge of the repertoire.

I did think the Magnificat's question was a bit niche
as it's the kind of thing (the Schubert in particular) which makes composers 'step-away' from their usual composiotional habits.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I did think the Magnificat's question was a bit niche
as it's the kind of thing (the Schubert in particular) which makes composers 'step-away' from their usual composiotional habits.

An "early" work, too - from around the time of the Fifth Symphony - so he hadn't completely developed those "habits" yet. (A feeble excuse, but mine own.)

[MrGongGong]

An "early" work, too - from around the time of the Fifth Symphony - so he hadn't completely developed those "habits" yet. (A feeble excuse, but mine own.)

That was the excuse in this house as well

BUT the Arvo Pärt was obvious IMV

[Nick Armstrong]

The "Entry into the Forest" from Nutcracker

Ah yes. I didn't get that

No.

Phew!

[BBMmk2]

Ah yes. I didn't get that


Phew!

The forest didn't have murmurs?

[Lat-Literal]

Did you see The Darkness on Celeb Pointless - knew nothing and singing was dreadful - I quite liked their Christmas No 1 before that - either his voice has deteriorated or it was tweeked in the studio for the original.

Sadly I missed that one.

[mercia]

oh dear, Paxo in full sneering, patronising mode for last night's edition. Is it meant to be entertaining ?

[LMcD]

oh dear, Paxo in full sneering, patronising mode for last night's edition. Is it meant to be entertaining ?

You can hardly blame him...I thought he was remarkably patient as the teams' deliberations over bonus questions went on on and on, often culminating in a shake of the head and the words 'Don't know'. I think there's a case for introducing a time limit for team consultations.
I was appalled at the ignorance of the Cardiff team. The good folk of Skegness will be amazed to learn that they live on the banks of the River Orwell.

[BBMmk2]

I felt underwhelmed by last night's programme.

[mercia]

when the contestants for these Christmas editions are individually introduced we are told a long list of their achievements and given the impression that they have all reached the top of their field, perhaps the peak of their careers. They do seem to have achieved this despite not knowing the name of any towns on the Orwell or how to spell Nietzsche.

[MrGongGong]

They do seem to have achieved this despite not knowing the name of any towns on the Orwell or how to spell Nietzsche.

Or even know of the existence of Neeeeecher

What last night's edition proved was that
if you want intelligence then Bruce is your man

[mercia]

I guess the message to any young person watching the programme is a) you can get into university without knowing X,Y & Z and b) you can get to the top of your chosen profession without knowing X,Y & Z.

[jean]

But then, the unrelated snippets of knowledge required by quizzes like this are often of no relevance to anything at all in real life.