Search - P.D.Q. [pseudonym of Peter Schickele] Bach, Jorge Mester, John Ferrante :: The Wurst of P.D.Q. Bach

New Horizons in Music Appreciation Indeed...

Lawrance M. Bernabo | The Zenith City, Duluth, Minnesota | 08/07/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It was while sitting in Music Appreciation in college that I was first introduced to the work of P.D.Q. Bach, specifically the track "New Horizons in Music Appreciation: Beethoven's Fifth Symphony," in which Professor Peter Schickele and Robert Dennis serve as the announcers for a spirited game involving the first movement of that particular work. Not only was it funny ("He's playing a cadenza! He's out of his mind! He thinks its an oboe concerto!") it was also more informative than the professor ("I get the feeling we are going to hear a lot of that four note motif, Bob"). One of the things about P.D.Q. Bach is that the more I learned about classical music the funnier I found it. Yes, I have enough memories of my mother insisting on playing the Texaco Opera quiz throughout the house on a Saturday afternoon to appreciate why "What's my Melodic Line?" and its exploration of the mysteries of the Baroque is funny, but it was not until I saw "Amadeus" and listened to "The Marriage of Figaro" that I understood why the recitatias in the Cantata "Iphigenia in Brooklyn" were hysterical (I was tempted to share this story of Iphigenia with my Classical Mythology class, but given their tentativeness to explore Euripides I did not think it wise to have them get neck deep in Schickele). Then again, the Madrigal "My Bonnie Lass She Smelleth" really needs no explanation, so there is something for everybody here, no matter what you level of understanding of classical music.In discussing the works of P.D.Q. Bach with others it becomes clear that you can no more put together an idea collection of his "best" work than you can for lesser composers like Mozart or Beethoven. But you are certainly going to find a few old favorites and maybe one or two pieces that you have hitherto managed to avoid. Now, if we can only get a University of Southern North Dakota at Hoople t-shirt..."

Ru-u-u-u-u-unning Nose!

Bryan Cass | Victor, NY USA | 09/02/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"PDQ Bach is a satire of serious classical music. By twisting words from opera, or leaving key chords unresolved, or making musicians play their mouthpiece without benefit of the instrument attached, Professor Peter Schickele injects slapstick humor into otherwise serious (and well-played) classical music. If you have never heard PDQ Bach before, get this CD first. This contains some of his best material, and contains live recordings which I think definitely enhance the listening experience. You get the audience's reactions to what's happening on stage, which makes it all the more funny and gives the new listener a cue as to what is supposed to be funny.I found an old cassette tape in a drawer this morning and popped it into my car cassette player. It happened to be a recording I made many years ago of this album -- I could barely see the road through the tears in my eyes -- I couldn't stop laughing all the way to work!"

For Music Lovers: But Not Serious Ones

Bryan Cass | 05/29/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I was exposed to PDQ Bach (and Spike Jones) in my formative years, which my children now claim may explain a few things. The CD I purchased from Amazon dot com recently is an upgrade/replacement for the old LP album by this title, which I still have. Peter Schickele has a marvelous comic sense, an obviously deep knowledge of Western music traditions, and very little of the "dignity" which I used to associate with Classical Music.
This album, and indeed all of Peter S's works, are not for those who reverence the classics. It is, however, for anyone who enjoys music: and even more for those who know just enough to appreciate the wild gags Schickele planted here and there.
A parting thought: I've used Schickele's 1712 Overture as a teaching tool, to introduce some of my children to music theory and orchestral composition. (With my relative lack of background, I need all the help I can get.)"