Orchestra Trivia | Dorky Geeky Nerdy Trivia Podcast (Mini #65)

Welcome back for another quick hit of trivia. This time, I’m going to ask you questions about instruments you’ll find in the orchestra. Just ten quick questions about musical instruments and we’re done.

Book of the Week

The Women’s Orchestra of Auschwitz by Anne Sebba

In 1943, German SS officers in charge of Auschwitz-Birkenau ordered that an orchestra be formed among the female prisoners. Almost fifty women and girls from eleven nations were drafted into a band that would play in all weathers marching music to other inmates, forced laborers who left each morning and returned, exhausted and often broken, at the end of the day. While still living amid the harshest of circumstances, with little more than a bowl of soup to eat, they were also made to give weekly concerts for Nazi officers, and individual members were sometimes summoned to give solo performances. For almost all of the musicians chosen to take part, being in the orchestra saved their lives. But at what cost?

Episode Transcript/Quiz

Episode Introduction

I’m your musically challenged host, Brian Rollins and this is the Dorky Geeky Nerdy Trivia Podcast. Strike up the band and let us begin.

Parts of the Orchestra Trivia Questions

Itzhak Perlman used what instrument to heartbreaking effect on the score for Schindler’s List?
a. Violin
Which stringed instrument is the symbol of Ireland?
a. Harp
Which instrument is used to tune the orchestra?
a. Oboe
What double-reeded instrument represented the grandfather in Peter and the Wolf?
a. Bassoon
What four-stringed instrument is favored by Yo-Yo Ma and the band, Apocalyptica?
a. Cello
Which brass instrument gets its name from the Italian for “large trumpet”?
a. Trombone
The concert version of what percussion and string instrument can range up to nearly 3 meters long?
a. Piano
Which woodwind plays one octave higher than a standard flute?
a. Piccolo
Which percussion instrument has bars often made of rosewood, padauk, and cocobolo wood?
a. Xylophone
What woodwind was popularized by swing musician, Benny Goodman?
a. Clarinet

Episode Conclusion

And play that final crescendo because we are done. Where are my band geeks at? I was a theater nerd, but I married a band geek, so I’m like a band groupie. Let me know what your instrument was (or still is) on social media.

This has been the Dorky Geeky Nerdy Trivia Podcast. You can learn more about the podcast at DorkyGeekyNerdy.com.

You can support the show and get ad-free episodes at Patreon.com/dorkygeekynerdy.

The show was written, produced, and hosted by me, Brian Rollins. If you’re into audiobooks or want to turn your book into an audiobook, contact me at TheVoicesInMyHead.com.

Thanks for listening.

Hosted & Written by Brian Rollins
Music by Jason Shaw