Music Diary Notes: The Smithsonian Institute Challenges You to Test Your Jazz Knowledge

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Do you love Jazz? Do you like taking sound quizzes? Do you think you know the history of jazz well enough to take a huge online test? Well, the Smithsonian has a challenge for you!

Next March, according to the Smithsonian site, an all-new anthology of jazz music, featuring 111 songs across 6 CDs. There is 80% new material compared with the classic 1973 collection – I had this one tape for years until I wore them out and bought it on CD back in the 90’s. Here are some details on the release:

Seven years in the making, ‘JAZZ: The Smithsonian Anthology’ will be released by Smithsonian Folkways on March 29th, 2011.

The six-CD box set traces the turning points of this 20th-century tale through its legendary innovators and exemplary exponents: Armstrong, Ellington, Basie, Parker, Gillespie, Davis, Hancock, Corea, Coltrane and many more. The set opens with Scott Joplin’s 1899 “Maple Leaf Rag” and spans the entire century, closing with Tomasz Sta?ko’s 2003 “Suspended Night Variation VIII.”

You can pre-order the collection from Amazon.com – for ~$100.

Now for the challenges: each quiz gives you a series of 10 or 11 second long samples, after which you need to name the artist and song. For the 25 song quiz you get 10 minutes, and for the 111 song quiz you get 20 minutes.

25 song challenge

111 song challenge

For the 25 song challenge I got either the song or artist correct for all 25 songs, but only 20 of them correct for both. I gave up on the 111 song challenge as I was running out of time too often! Let me know how you do!

Source: NPR Blog Supreme

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About the Author

Michael Anderson
I have loved technology for as long as I can remember - and have been a computer gamer since the PDP-10! Mobile Technology has played a major role in my life - I have used an electronic companion since the HP95LX more than 20 years ago, and have been a 'Laptop First' person since my Compaq LTE Lite 3/20 and Powerbook 170 back in 1991! As an avid gamer and gadget-junkie I was constantly asked for my opinions on new technology, which led to writing small blurbs ... and eventually becoming a reviewer many years ago. My family is my biggest priority in life, and they alternate between loving and tolerating my gaming and gadget hobbies ... but ultimately benefits from the addition of technology to our lives!

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