Trivia quiz game!

[Florestan]

I'm inclined to guess Nietzsche for never-decided-but-writings-won-out man and Theodor Adorno for switched-to-writings man. There could be other answers too!

You got one name right but for the wrong reason. 

[(poco) Sforzando]

Okay, here is mine - an off-the-top-of-my-head, easy one.

This man showed considerable literary talent at an early age but he eventually became famous for his music. Conversely, this other man displayed considerable early musical talent but he eventually became famous for his writings. Yet another two men never made up their mind between music and writing, but one is more famous for his writings than for his music, while the other is more famous for his music than for his writings. Name them. 

Don't know, but if you want to know a man who showed considerable literary talent at an early age but he eventually became famous for his writings, or a man who displayed considerable early musical talent but eventually became famous for his music, I'm good for it.

[Brian]

You got one name right but for the wrong reason. 

Were both Nietzsche and Adorno answers for "switched to writing"? I thought Nietzsche's compositions dated from adulthood but maybe I'm wrong...

[amw]

I think ETA Hoffmann may be the "never decided but writing won out" one.

[Florestan]

Were both Nietzsche and Adorno answers for "switched to writing"? I thought Nietzsche's compositions dated from adulthood but maybe I'm wrong...

It's indeed Nietzsche that I had in my mind. AFAIK most of his compositions date from before 1870, when he was 26 and hadn't yet published any important writing.  "Switched to writing" has thus been answered by Brian.

[Florestan]

I think ETA Hoffmann may be the "never decided but writing won out" one.

Correct. You won on this one.

Two more to go: the "started by writing and switched to composing" and the "never decided but composing won out". C'mon, gentlemen, they are really famous. 

[The new erato]

Leonard Cohen

[Florestan]

Leonard Cohen

Certainly fits the "never decided" bill, but it's not him whom I have in mind. 

[(poco) Sforzando]

Correct. You won on this one.

Two more to go: the "started by writing and switched to composing" and the "never decided but composing won out". C'mon, gentlemen, they are really famous. 

Given the somewhat vagueness of the question, I could suggest Berlioz for choice 1. Or choice 2. At least he's famous, both as writer and composer. Or even Wagner for choice 2. He's also really famous.

And why has no one attempted my Stravinsky/Shakespeare question?

[Florestan]

Or even Wagner for choice 2. He's also really famous.

Bingo!

Berlioz's writings are almost exclusively focused on musical criticism, while Wagner's include philosophy, poetry, politics and theory of art; his collected writings amount to some eight volumes. 

So, who's the other guy, the one that switched to composing? 

And why has no one attempted my Stravinsky/Shakespeare question?

I'm working on it.

I strongly suspect it's The Rake's Progress, as one of the librettists was W. H. Auden, exactly the guy one would expect to make use of Shakespeare. 

[The new erato]

his collected writings amount to some eight volumes. 

Unfortunately.

[Florestan]

I'm working on it.

I strongly suspect it's The Rake's Progress, as one of the librettists was W. H. Auden, exactly the guy one would expect to make use of Shakespeare. 

Cymbeline, Act IV, scene 2

Golden lads and girls all must,
As chimney-sweepers, come to dust.

The Rake's Progress,  Act Three

Every wearied body must
Late or soon return to dust..

Does this answer your question? 

[(poco) Sforzando]

Cymbeline, Act IV, scene 2

Golden lads and girls all must,
As chimney-sweepers, come to dust.

The Rake's Progress,  Act Three

Every wearied body must
Late or soon return to dust..

Does this answer your question? 

That's very good. I hadn't thought of that one. But I'm thinking of a different specific line, one which refers to a Shakespeare play already mentioned on this thread. And I believe the allusion I have in mind is deliberate, as the situation in TRP seems to be a parody of the Shakespeare.

I'll give you a big hint: the line I am thinking of is a curtain line.

[Florestan]

That's very good. I hadn't thought of that one. But I'm thinking of a different specific line, one which refers to a Shakespeare play already mentioned on this thread. And I believe the allusion I have in mind is deliberate, as the situation in TRP seems to be a parody of the Shakespeare.

I'll give you a big hint: the line I am thinking of is a curtain line.

Thanks. Just give me some more time. 

[Florestan]

You're a real pain in the ass, Mr. Sforz, if you'll excuse my French! 

The only curtain line that might fit your criterion is Nick Shadow's "Sweet dreams, my master! Dreams may lie / But dream! For when you wake, you die." at the end of Scene 2 of Act One and it might allude to Mercutio's "That dreamers often lie". Other than that I can find nothing and if that doesn't answer your question, I give up in despair... 

Now, since you seem to revel in this kind of cultural detectivism here's one for you, which I think of as a revenge for all the trouble you caused me with your Shakesperean quizzzes ( ):

Start by the island of Mazzorbo and by consecutive associations of ideas arrive at Alfred Lord Tennyson in five intermediary steps. 

Oh, and I'm still waiting for the name of the guy who switched from writing to composing. Big hint: he attempted suicide. Now you or anyone else should be able to name him instantly. 

[amw]

He's also probably one of the 5 most well-known composers who died of syphilis.

[Florestan]

He's also probably one of the 5 most well-known composers who might have died of syphilis.

That's a more correct statement, actually. 

[The new erato]

I thought he died of tuberculosis set off by the effects of potential syphilis?

[Florestan]

I thought he died of tuberculosis set off by the effects of potential syphilis?

Nope.It has been hypothesized that his mental breakdown might have been the result of his being treated for syphilis with mercury, as it was the common practice of those times.

[(poco) Sforzando]

Nope.It has been hypothesized that his mental breakdown might have been the result of his being treated for syphilis with mercury, as it was the common practice of those times.

Has to be Schumann, then.