My dad was a piano professor and my mom a German professor, so throughout my childhood PDQ Bach was a big presence. Dad would joke that I was the only kid who knew the 1712 Overture but not the 1812 Overture. On a road trip to drop me off at summer camp, he and I made a big detour just to stop in Hoople, North Dakota, home of the fictional university at which Professor Pete did his research and of the fictional orchestra that performed PDQ Bach's works. (Unfortunately the city of Hoople doesn't seem to have embraced its provenance.)
My wife, who grew up in a normal family, thinks the fact that my family's idea of a good time is listening to a cassette of "classical music humor," is the nerdiest thing ever.
I was just listening to the 'WTWP' album yesterday. Thanks, Dr. Schickele, for being such a cherished part of our family!
Saw him live... the concert started without him, then he screamed from the bleachers to stop, and climbed down from a rope. I don't remember what was performed, because my memory probably confuses the concert with my favorite recordings: 1712 Overture, Bach Portrait, and the piece with the tromboon (double-reed mouthpiece hooked up to a trombone; one of the most obnoxious sounds I've ever heard).
Oh, and we can't forget "Coy hotsy-totsy." (Koyaanisqatsi)
RIP. One of my favs growing up. Still fondly remember "New Horizons in Music Appreciation" and "Sonata for Two Unfriendly Groups of Instruments". Hilarious send up of classical music tropes.
I have always liked the cantata, "Iphigenia in Brooklyn". Particularly Schickele's comment as he introduces the piece, "Exactly where he got his text we do not know; most Greek scholars that I've talked to seem unaware that Iphigenia ever was in Brooklyn." And later, "Now of course PDQ Bach was not the only composer to use double reeds, but as far as I know he is the only one ever to do so without the use of oboes and bassoons."
Yes, I consider myself lucky to have seen it as well, though not at Carnegie Hall. A lot of very funny stuff but also some spectacular fiddling. If you ask me the best fiddlers are the ones who mostly play classical repertoire.
I do think WTWP: Classical Talkity Talk Radio is my favorite overall. Truly a vicious parody of both mediocre classical radio and morning drive style "banter".
PDQ Bach is funny to young people and musical neophytes, and even funnier the more erudite you are. Every time I read or hear another PDQ score, book, or record, I find jokes that I wouldn't have gotten even two weeks before.
I grew up listening to PDQ Bach. This man was brilliant and deeply appealed to my humor as a kiddo. I have many fond memories of sharing his work with others just to see them react.
Very sad day for Western classical music community. Peter Schickele is one of the bigs of the late 20th century WCM and demonstrated that sarcasm and parody can create profound statements in art music. He will be dearly missed by people who listened to his works, and laughed to his performances.
https://archive.ph/izkhv