The Janissaries were an elite corps of Turkish soldiers whose music wa

Question

The Janissaries were an elite corps of Turkish soldiers whose music was particularly suited to a military corps. Janissary music used kettledrums, cymbals, triangles, tambourines, and unusual forms of percussion such as the “Jingling Johnny,” a tall, decorated pole hung with bells. By 1720, the sound had made its way to Europe by way of a gift from the Turkish sultan to the Polish army of Augustus II. Within a few years, Janissary percussion had been added to military bands in Russia, Austria, and Prussia. So-called “Turkish music” became wildly popular, and it did not take long for the lively military style to find its way into classical composition. This sudden craze presaged the Orientalism that would flavor European art in the next century.

Here in America, when we think of martial music, we think of John Philip Sousa and beloved marches on the order of “The Stars and Stripes Forever.” However, 100 years earlier, Joseph Haydn used a Janissary style in his Military Symphony No. 100 in G Major, and Ludwig van Beethoven included a “Turkish March” in his The Ruins of Athens. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart based his opera The Abduction from the Seraglio on Janissary percussion. As the 19th century began, it became popular to add a “Janissary stop” to pianos and harpsichords, to provide a percussive accompaniment similar to that produced by the kettledrums of the Janissary corps.

As quickly as it had come, Janissary music passed out of favor, and by the middle of the 19th century, European and American bands had become formal, trained accessories to regiments, consisting typically of flute and piccolo, clarinets, oboe, saxophones, bassoons, horns, cornets, trombones, and percussion. In this country, the importance of martial music may have reached its peak during the Civil War, when every unit and regiment had its own small band. However, even today, according to Mother Jones, the Pentagon is the largest employer of musicians anywhere in the world, spending nearly $200 million of taxpayers’ money annually on bands from Guam to Washington, DC—approximately 10 times what the federal government spends on K–12 music education. No longer do these bands follow men into battle, however; their purpose today is largely ceremonial, and you are more likely to hear them at a state funeral than at the rear of a forced march.    1 
 1. The discussion of Haydn and Mozart best illustrates the author’s point that

(A) not all martial music is Janissary in flavor
(B) Janissary music was European in origin
(C) martial music influenced classical composers
(D) Orientalism affected painting as well as music
(E) martial music was not merely percussive

2 
 2. Which of the following assertions does the author support with an example?

I. Janissary music used unusual forms of percussion.
II. You might hear martial music at a state funeral.
III. John Philip Sousa wrote beloved marches.

(A) I only
(B) II only
(C) I and III only
(D) II and III only
(E) I, II, and III

3 
 3. In the 18th century, enlisting in the army became known as “following the drum.” If the author included this information in the passage, it would probably be used to

(A) support the notion that martial music was a critical part of military culture
(B) provide an example of idiomatic expressions based on music and art
(C) add details to the segment on the influence of martial music in the Civil War
(D) illustrate the change that followed the introduction of Janissary music
(E) explain why drums are often used in the music of Haydn

4 
 4. The author’s mention of the level of funding provided for music education is most likely meant as a

(A) fascinating comparison 
(B) critical comment
(C) humorous aside
(D) predictive claim
(E) assertion of proof

5 
 5. Which of the following statements most accurately captures the central idea of the passage?

(A) Music from Turkey continues to influence martial music even today.
(B) Most of our current martial instrumentation derives from an Orientalist tradition.
(C) In the time before brass instruments, martial music relied on percussion.
(D) Janissary percussion was popular for a time with European armies and composers.
(E) Whereas military bands once worked the battlefields, today they are ceremonial.

RC Butler 2023  -  Practice Two RC Passages Everyday.   
Passage # 218 Date: 03-Jul-2023
 This question is part of RC Butler 2023 .  Click here for Details

UtkarshAgarwal02 · Answer

Can someone please provide an explanation to Question 4? Considering Pentagon spends a lot of money on musical bands now as well, shouldn't it be a fascinating comparison?

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Explanation

4. The author’s mention of the level of funding provided for music education is most likely meant as a

Explanation

The passage discusses the historical significance of Janissary music and its influence on European and American compositions. It then shifts to discussing the decline of Janissary music's popularity and the transformation of military bands into formal, trained accessories to regiments. Towards the end, the passage mentions that the Pentagon is the largest employer of musicians in the world, spending a significant amount of taxpayers' money on bands, which is approximately 10 times more than what the federal government spends on K–12 music education.

By providing this information, the author is making a critical comment on the disparity between the funding allocated to military bands and the funding allocated to music education in schools. The mention of the significant difference in spending is intended to highlight the author's concern or dissatisfaction with the prioritization of military bands over music education. It suggests that the allocation of funds is imbalanced, potentially indicating a lack of support for music education in comparison to ceremonial military performances.

Therefore, the mention of the funding for music education can be understood as a critical comment, expressing the author's viewpoint on the allocation of resources in support of music programs.

Answer: B

mlindak · Answer

1. The discussion of Haydn and Mozart best illustrates the author’s point that

(A) not all martial music is Janissary in flavor  Wrong - Different part of the passage 
(B) Janissary music was European in origin  Wrong - Not related to europe 
(C) martial music influenced classical composers  Correct - Haydn and Mozart and classical composers 
(D) Orientalism affected painting as well as music  Wrong - true but unrelated 
(E) martial music was not merely percussive  Wrong - unrelated

2. Which of the following assertions does the author support with an example? (This was confusing for me

I. Janissary music used unusual forms of percussion.  Yes, In P1 it says  
II. You might hear martial music at a state funeral.  This is mentioned but its not supported with an example 
III. John Philip Sousa wrote beloved marches.  Yes, in P2  
 Answer is 1Yes, 2No, 3 Yes -> C

3. In the 18th century, enlisting in the army became known as “following the drum.” If the author included this information in the passage, it would probably be used to

(A) support the notion that martial music was a critical part of military culture  Correct! its more critical because it would encourage enlisting to the army 
(B) provide an example of idiomatic expressions based on music and art  Not an example 
(C) add details to the segment on the influence of martial music in the Civil War  Author is making a different point with Civil War 
(D) illustrate the change that followed the introduction of Janissary music  Unrelated 
(E) explain why drums are often used in the music of Haydn  It doesn't explain it

4. The author’s mention of the level of funding provided for music education is most likely meant as a

(A) fascinating comparison
(B) critical comment 
(C) humorous aside  clearly no 
(D) predictive claim  clearly no 
(E) assertion of proof  clearly no

Between A and B was hard for me. It would be more obvious if the author were to show that he is fascinated. So I went with B. Critical

5. Which of the following statements most accurately captures the central idea of the passage?

(A) Music from Turkey continues to influence martial music even today.  Not sure its the main idea, just the last sentence 
(B) Most of our current martial instrumentation derives from an Orientalist tradition.  Not main idea 
(C) In the time before brass instruments, martial music relied on percussion.  I don't think the author talked about brass 
(D) Janissary percussion was popular for a time with European armies and composers.  Correct! Mentioned in P1 and P2 
(E) Whereas military bands once worked the battlefields, today they are ceremonial.  Not the main idea, just last sentence

The Janissaries were an elite corps of Turkish soldiers whose music wa

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards

GMAT Reading Comprehension (RC) Questions

The Janissaries were an elite corps of Turkish soldiers whose music wa

Prep Toolkit

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards