For two hundred years (1150-1350), Paris had been the center of the musical avant-garde. What brought calamity to late medieval Paris, destroying their artistic leadership for nearly another two centuries?

For what occasion was Verdi's Aida commissioned?

a. the opening of the Suez Canal b. Egypt's independence from Great Britain c. the commemoration of the Italian independence movement d. the death of Wagner

Which of the following is not true of pianist Lennie Tristano?

a. his playing exhibited virtuosic cool precision b. he fashioned a viable alternative to bebop playing c. he was one of the most popular and successful pianists of the 1950s d. he explored elements of "free jazz" as early as 1949