The Relativity of Music
We of the OCD persuasion make lists. It’s what we do.
For years, I was familiar with numerous relationships, by blood, marriage, and other, between famous and well-known musicians. In recent years, I have become aware of other such relationships, more remote, less well-known. This prompted me to see if I could put together a “complete” list of identifiable relationships. Of necessity, such a “complete” list would have to draw from instances in which at least one of any such pairs would be immediately known only to a much smaller group of individuals–performing musicians, or academics (faculty and students). I found many instances of fathers and sons, and brothers, but far fewer pairs including women (especially the more distant the relationship). Indeed I found no “acceptable” such relationships at all for pairs including the personages of mother, grandmother, mother-in-law, granddaughter, and daughter-in-law. [If you know of such persons, whom you feel would be sufficiently well-known to be included in my list, please let me know, and I can consider revising my list in the future to include such pairs.]
In the list which follows, select and insert into the blanks of the questions the appropriate status from the categories of “relationships” shown below. In several instances, one member of a pair would not be considered a “musician,” but, Hey, it’s my list so I take the license!
This Quiz question is not meant to offend the participant by being overly pedantic. As noted above, in my initial research I did the best I could to find people who would be known to as wide an audience as possible. Please do not be “turned off” by those questions you cannot answer (at least until reference is made to Baker’s or Grove). Rather, delight in and enjoy those you DO recognize.
Relationships
A. Husband
B. Wife
C. Father
D. Mother
E. Grandfather
F. Grandmother
G. Father-in-law
H Mother-in-law
I. Son
J. Daughter
K. Grandson
L. Granddaughter
M. Son-in-law
N. Daughter-in-law
O. Brother
P. Sister
Q. Uncle
R. Aunt
S. Nephew
T. Niece
U. Cousin
V. Companion/Friend
Questions
1. Franz Liszt was the __________ of Richard Wagner.
2. Clara Schumann was the __________ of Robert Schumann.
3. Vladimir Horowitz was the __________ of Arturo Toscanini.
4. Josef Suk (violinist) was the __________ of Josef Suk (composer).
5. Fanny Mendelssohn was the __________ of Felix Mendelssohn.
6. Domenico Scarlatti was the __________ of Allessandro Scarlatti.
7. Andrea Gabrieli was the __________ of Giovanni Gabrieli.
8. Leopold Mozart was the __________ of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
9. André Kostelanetz was the __________ of Lily Pons.
10. Michael Haydn was the __________ of Franz Joseph Haydn.
11. Frédéric Chopin was the __________ of George Sand.
12. Louise Homer was the __________ of Samuel Barber.
13. Richard Wagner was the __________ of Wieland Wagner.
14. Peter Pears was the __________ of Benjamin Britten.
15. Samuel Wesley was the __________ of John Wesley.
16. Carl Maria von Weber was the __________ of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
17. Louise Héritte-Viardot was the __________ of Maria Malibran.
18. Imogen Holst was the __________ of Gustav Holst.
19. Josepha Hofer was the __________ of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
Answers
1. Franz Liszt was the father-in-law of Richard Wagner.
2. Clara Schumann was the wife of Robert Schumann.
3. Vladimir Horowitz was the son-in-law of Arturo Toscanini.
4. Josef Suk (violinist) was the grandson of Josef Suk (composer).
5. Fanny Mendelssohn was the sister of Felix Mendelssohn.
6. Domenico Scarlatti was the son of Allessandro Scarlatti.
7. Andrea Gabrieli was the uncle of Giovanni Gabrieli.
8. Leopold Mozart was the father of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
9. André Kostelanetz was the husband of Lily Pons.
10. Michael Haydn was the brother of Franz Joseph Haydn.
11. Frédéric Chopin was the companion of George Sand.
12. Louise Homer was the aunt of Samuel Barber.
13. Richard Wagner was the grandfather of Wieland Wagner.
14. Peter Pears was the friend of Benjamin Britten.
15. Samuel Wesley was the nephew of John Wesley.
16. Carl Maria von Weber was the cousin of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
17. Louise Héritte-Viardot was the niece of Maria Malibran.
18. Imogen Holst was the daughter of Gustav Holst.
19. Josepha Hofer was the sister-in-law of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.