Personally, I don't think "Ireland" should work for "Northern Ireland." I put in Ireland and got the answer right when I probably shouldn't have. One is a sovereign nation and one is part of a collective group of nations. It would be like accepting Mexico for New Mexico.
That's a good point, but I also don't think accepting the UK as the answer would be appropriate either, since that is the country it occurred in, if country=sovereign nation. I suppose the clue could be changed to ask what Island instead of what country?
The harpsichord isn't obsolete. It's alive and well. Maybe a better clue would be "which keyboard instrument was surpassed in popularity by the piano" or something like that.
Yes, it's alive and well in early music circles, but the clue is fine as written. I say that as someone who is married to a harpsichordist and owns one...
The harpsichord has seen somewhat of a resurgence in the 20th century. There are well known concertos for the instrument by Poulenc and Falla. And it has also been used in symphonic works and chamber music by composers such as Elliott Carter, Schnittke, and Dutilleux, to name a few that come to mind immediately.
I may be showing my ignorance of early instruments, but would the clavichord fit this clue as well? It seems to been popular around the same time as the harpsichord and also surpassed in popularity by the piano.
Great quiz, but one small factual issue – there is no evidence for the existence of the 'iron maiden' before the 19th century. Perhaps the question should be, 'What is either a popular heavy metal band or a supposed medieval torture device?' Or maybe the 'medieval' could be dropped entirely.
I really enjoyed this quiz. If I can nit-pick one tiny thing, though:
There is also a heavy metal band called "Pillory," and a pillory is also a medieval torture device. Iron Maiden is a more popular band, true, but the pillory was an actual medieval torture device, and the iron maiden was likely fictitious. Also, the band Iron Maiden might be considered a hard rock band by today's standards, whereas the band Pillory creates a sound much more in line with the standards of "heavy metal" music. For those reasons, "Pillory" might be considered a better answer.
Iron Maiden is one of the most important metal bands ever (as opposed to the obscure band you mentioned). The fact that these days there's louder/harder bands out there doesn't mean Maiden isn't metal. This is the typical "true metal" silliness sadly too common amongst fans of the genre. From where do you get these so called "standards" of heavy metal? What, Maiden isn't "brütal" enough for you? -facepalm-
Auto-Tune is very popular. It bascially alters pitch. Many artists use it just a little but a heavy use like in Chers "Believe" makes it sound weirdly robotic.
There is also a heavy metal band called "Pillory," and a pillory is also a medieval torture device. Iron Maiden is a more popular band, true, but the pillory was an actual medieval torture device, and the iron maiden was likely fictitious. Also, the band Iron Maiden might be considered a hard rock band by today's standards, whereas the band Pillory creates a sound much more in line with the standards of "heavy metal" music. For those reasons, "Pillory" might be considered a better answer.