Who composed Also Sprach Zarathustra?

• A. Johannes Brahms
• B. Richard Strauss
• C. Hector Berlioz
• D. Gustav Mahler

Answer: (B)

This question tests recognition of a famous programmatic work and its composer. Also sprach Zarathustra is a tone poem by Richard Strauss, written in the late 19th century (the 1890s) and inspired by Nietzsche’s philosophical novel of the same name. It’s designed to tell a story or paint scenes in music rather than follow a strict symphonic map, and it showcases Strauss’s prowess in orchestration and psychological pacing. The opening brass fanfare, often heard as a sunrise, is one of the most recognizable moments in all of classical music and sets up a sequence of tableaux that explore themes of awakening, progress, and grandeur.

So, among the composers listed, the one who created this work is Richard Strauss. The others—Brahms, Berlioz, and Mahler—wrote very different styles and works; Brahms is associated with more traditional symphonies and chamber music, Berlioz did courtly programmatic works earlier in the Romantic era, and Mahler wrote expansive symphonies and related pieces but not this title.