OT: RIP Peter Schickele (alias P.D.Q. Bach)
 

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/17/a...kele-dead.html

The world of classical music has lost a man who gave enjoyment and laughter to many thousands of listeners. I was a very big fan of his. In fact, my signature is a quote from his syndicated public radio show, Schickele Mix (I'm very sorry I didn't tape the shows). I have many fond memories of his concerts and talks in the NYC area.

Here is a collection of seven "P.D.Q. Bach" videos: https://www.wqxr.org/story/7-hilario...ting-pdq-bach/.

I think I'm going to listen now to his "A Little Nightmare Music" (an opera in "one irrevocable act") and then "Iphigenia in Brooklyn."

This is a fantastic obit. Had just read it before coming here and while reading it was thinking of your tag line. I started listening to Schickele Mix in the 1990s when coming to the US for grad school and became an instant fan. Farewell to the inventor of the Hardart, dill piccolo, and left-handed sewer flute!

This is one of my favorites!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WR4CdKSeD-E

Tim

Certainly listened to Schickele Mix many times. A gifted and very funny man. RIP.

Oh no! We used to listen back in college, early 70s! Hilarious man. RIP

In addition to being hilarious and able to gimmick it up with the best of them, I'm often struck that he was also just a straight up good composer. Two small pieces stick in my mind. One is the Last Tango in Bayreuth, which is a bassoon quartet constructed of Wagner themes. If you recognize the themes it's hilarious; but if you ignore where they come from, it's also just this wonderful little gem of a piece.
The other is a round he wrote with the text of Dona Nobis Pacem. It's not a joke or a gimmick or anything; it's just a beautiful short round you could sing with friends (although it's rather trickier than the well-known Dona Nobis round).

They're both small, short, seemingly nothing special. But they're so well constructed and effective; not everyone can say so much in so little space.

:sadface: