How much do you know about Central Asian Music?

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Do you know what makes people tap their feet and hum a tune in Central Asia?

Quiz Questions

• 1.
  Which billion-dollar Indian film industry has come to rival Hollywood, with lavish musical theater productions?

  • A.
    Mollywood
  • B.
    Dollywood
  • C.
    Bollywood

    (Correct Answer)
  • D.
    Pollywood
• 2.
  What system of note relationships is used for organizing much Central Asian music, much as scales and modes are used in European and American music traditions?

  • A.
    Locrias
  • B.
    Maqams

    (Correct Answer)
  • C.
    Chants
  • D.
    Tamaks
• 3.
  In which country is the chanting of Buddhist monks a defining feature of a musical culture that also includes rock, rap, and pop music?

  • A.
    Tibet

    (Correct Answer)
  • B.
    Kyrgyzstan
  • C.
    India
  • D.
    Pakistan
• 4.
  On what Central Asian island would you find indigenous music blended with Buddhist chants, Bollywood tunes, Portuguese ballads, and African kaffrinhas?

  • A.
    Andaman
  • B.
    Socotra
  • C.
    Sri Lanka

    (Correct Answer)
  • D.
    Bangladesh
• 5.
  In which war-torn country did "Rubab" music originate, only to be banned by the Taliban in the 1990s and then become popular again in recent years?  

  • A.
    Syria 
  • B.
    Iraq
  • C.
    Iran
  • D.
    Afghanistan

    (Correct Answer)
• 6.
  What Sufi devotional music is performed by a "humnawa" of 8-9 men in a religious assembly meant to connect performers and listeners more directly with God?

  • A.
    Qawwali

    (Correct Answer)
  • B.
    Chinagrass 
  • C.
    Manaschi
  • D.
    Buddhist chant
• 7.
  Which instruments help create the unique sounds of Central Asian music? 

  • A.
    French horn, bassoon, oboe
  • B.
    Vibraphone, electric guitar
  • C.
    Lute, harpsichord
  • D.
    Sitar, table, harmonium

    (Correct Answer)
• 8.
  In which Central Asian country does much of the music celebrate the King? 

  • A.
    Lebanon
  • B.
    Bhutan

    (Correct Answer)
  • C.
    Yemen
  • D.
    Nepal
• 9.
  In which country are televised talent shows like Star Academy and Superstar a place where breakout stars sometimes cross over into European and American popularity?

  • A.
    Russia
  • B.
    Iran
  • C.
    Lebanon

    (Correct Answer)
  • D.
    Turkey
• 10.
  Where did the "Arabesque"--an Arabic music form infused with scales and rhythms of western music--originate?

  • A.
    Bangledesh
  • B.
    India
  • C.
    Tajikistan
  • D.
    Turkey 

    (Correct Answer)

Quiz Outcomes

• 1.
  0 to 3 correct:

  Novice -

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  You've learned a thing or two, but you'll need to spend some more time exploring Central Asia to come out on top!
• 2.
  4 to 7 correct:

  Silver Medalist -

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  You know the difference between Buddhist chanting and maqams, but there's still more to learn about the music of Central Asia!
• 3.
  8 to 10 correct:

  Expert -

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  Central Asia is a wildly diverse region, but you've learned a lot about the different types of music that people love playing and listening to there!