Final Jeopardy: Classical Music (7-11-13)

The Final Jeopardy question (7/11/2013) in the category “Classical Music” was:

This piece that premiered in Moscow in 1882 includes strains from “God Save the Czar” & “La Marseillaise.”

Well, there’s just no stopping Ben Ingram, who is now an 8-day champ with winnings of $176,534. Or is there? Here are two new players who are going to take their best shot at toppling the champ today: Mark Japinga from Washington, DC; and Dawn Owens-Nicholson from Champaign, IL.

Ben found the Jeopardy! round Daily Double on his first pick after the first break in “The Law.” He was in the lead with $5,000, $1,600 ahead of Mark in second place. He bet that $1,600 and thought it was an “adjournment.” That was WRONG.

Oddly, this term for a trial postponement comes from the Latin of “uninterrupted.” show

Ben finished in the lead with $7,800. Mark was second with $3,600 and Dawn was last with $2,200.

Ben found the first Double Jeopardy Daily Double in “World History” on the second clue picked, after correctly answering the first clue. In the lead with $8,200, he had $4,600 more than Mark in second place. He bet $3,000 and he was RIGHT.

The 1st planned convict settlement in Australia was at this bay named for its abundance & variety of life. show

Dawn found the last Daily Double in “Anniversary Gifts.” She was now in second place with $11,800 due to her outstanding knowledge of 19th century romance novels. That was only $200 behind Ben’s lead due to a couple of bad guesses on his part. Dawn said she “might be crazy” and bet $10,000 and SHE WAS RIGHT!

40th: A “pigeon’s blood” one of these. show

Dawn finished in the lead with $21,000. Mark was next with $15,600 and Ben finished last with $14,400.

TWO of the contestants got Final Jeopardy! right.

WHAT IS THE 1812 OVERTURE?

“Though far from Tchaikovsky’s most important or impressive work, the ‘1812 Overture’ is undoubtedly his best known piece. Tchaikovsky himself didn’t feel much enthusiasm for the work while he was composing it, and if it were not for a lucrative commission for a ceremonial overture to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Russia’s victory over Napoleon in 1812, it is unlikely that Tchaikovsky would have composed the overture on his own initiative. Tchaikovsky worked on the overture from October 12 to November 19, 1880. In his own words, he found it ‘very loud and noisy.'” (Classical.net: 1812 Overture)

Ben got it right but only bet $3,600. He finished with $18,000.

Mark also got it but wasn’t quite as shy with his bet of $15,599. He finished with $31,199.

Dawn didn’t have a clue and that’s what she wrote down, but she didn’t bet anything at all, so she finished second with $21,000. But kudos to Dawn on her gutsy DD bet all the same.

And so, Mark Japinga is the guy who toppled Big Ben and we will see this new Jeopardy champ tomorrow. Well done, Mark!

And, as Alex Trebek said, we’ll be seeing Ben Ingram again in the next Tournament of Champions. Check it out:

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3 Responses

  1. VJ says:

    I wasn’t surprised that Dawn didn’t bet big in FJ. I think she knew she got lucky with a couple of categories that she could beat the guys at and fairly confident with the Anniversary Gifts and 19th Century Novels, though she got a wrong answer in the first and didn’t buzz in on Ben’s Dickens miss in the latter.

  2. john blahuta says:

    @aaaa absolutely. i don’t know what she was thinking. on the one hand she bets 10 K on a dd and then chickens out in fj?? although she got lucky with a no brainer (blood is red and how many red precious stones are there??) at the dd….also botany bay, continuance and fj were rather easy. but in the end it did not matter. i was surprised though, because 1812 was very obvious. at least i think so, given the clues.

    at least dawn does not need to kick herself. nothing must be more frustrating in j. than to get something right and having made a wrong wager!!!congrats to mark for a good game and a nice pay day!!!

  3. aaaa says:

    Inoptimal wagering by Dawn and Mark. Mark got it right and he won. Dawn would have felt worse if she lost solely because of not making the usual first place wager in this case.