We Put Peter Sagal To The Test
Before Wait, Wait... Don't Tell Me hits Blossom Music Center July 18, we quiz its host.
CM: Since you’re going to be on the Blossom stage, we’re going to ask you about orchestra conducting.
PS: This is not my job, and I have no expertise at all, so this is a good choice.
CM: What year did Franz Welser-Möst become the musical director for the Cleveland Orchestra?
A. 1993
B. 2002
C. 2016
PS: What I could do since I’m sitting in front of my computer in my office, is what I believe some of our listeners do. They have a lot of time to listen in silence so I think they’re just typing in all the ideas. Uh … 2002.
CM: Yes!
PS: Hey. That was a random guess.
CM: Conducting staffs were reportedly first used to lead musicians in 709 B.C. in which ancient civilization?
A. Greek
B. Egyptian
C. Mayan
PS: I’m going to say, based on what I know, that the civilization that had sort of its peak around then were the Greeks.
CM: You are correct! It was 800 musicians the person was leading.
PS: Whoa. I guess you’d need a big stick.
CM: In conducting, what does rallentando mean?
A. Gradually speed up tempo
B. Stop conducting to sip wine
C. Gradually slow down tempo
PS: Because rally means to sort of pick up, I’m assuming it’s the same root, so I’m going to say the first one, to slowly speed up.
CM: It’s actually C.
PS: Wow. Who knew?
