Hours of Strange and Wonderful Enjoyment This is a fine collection of the work of the "oddest of Bach's 20-odd children." The intros and commentary by Professor Peter Schickele (University of Southern North Dakota at Hoople) are as sidesplitting as the "music" itself. One learns, for example, that PDQ Bach is the only composer to have written for double reeds -- without the use of oboes or bassoons. . . . Just four of the high(low)lights on this 4-disc set include: "Concerto for Horn and Hardart," "Iphigenia in Brooklyn," "Unbegun Symphony," and "Pervertimento for Bagpipes, Bicycle, and Balloons." The PDQ Bach corpus is (fortunately) not exhausted with this box set, so there will likely be others, but this one is terrific and will provide hours of strange and wonderful enjoyment.
PDQ Bach lifts the standard of musical humor Excellent 4 CD album from PDQ Bach. Although most music is meant to be humoresque, it is also brilliantly composed/'borrowed' from other composer. Nice item for music lovers that do have sense of, almost British, humor.
Essential for any classical fan with a sense of humor This recording is a treasure trove of PDQ Bach music. It is good for many, many laughs, and even my husband who is not well-versed in classical enjoys it to bits. A must-own for anyone who loves the wit of Peter Schickele!
calamity in high C if you cant sing and laugh at the same time just wait til he tries to do a Rap song. look for my favorite song of his "o little town of hackensack" for christmas time
Totally corny and totally classic! What can I say? These attempts to poke fun at classical music and aficionados of the genre are silly, puerile, well-informed, beloved by said aficionados, and utterly hilarious. With a style of humor that is something like a cross between Garrison Keillor, Victor Borge and Monty Python, "Professor" Peter Schickele has been perpetrating the P.D.Q. Bach phenomenon since 1959. "Researching" and sometimes even dressing up as the alleged "last and least" of Johann Sebastian Bach's many children, Schickele has composed, conducted and performed send-ups of various composers and musical styles. This four CD set compiles some the best (or should I say "worst"?) of his efforts. Included are "The O.K. Chorale", "The Unbegun Symphony", "My Bonnie Lass, She Smelleth", "The Seasonings", "Schleptet in E flat minor", "Echo Sonata for Two Unfriendly Groups of Instruments", "Concerto for Horn and Hardart", and my two personal favorites: "Beethoven's Fifth Symphony" (with commentary by sports analysts discussing the "competition" between the conductor and the orchestra) and the hilarious cantata "Iphigenia in Brooklyn". I can remember my father rolling on the floor in hysterics upon first hearing "Iphigenia", and anyone who is familiar with the Baroque oratorio style of such ubiquitous works as Handel's "Messiah" or J.S. Bach's cantatas will undoubtedly howl too at all the "in jokes". If you're serious about Baroque or classical music, do yourself a favor--let your hair down, get un-serious, and listen to these CDs every once in a while. And may every genre of music be fortunate enough to have a "P.D.Q. Bach" invented for it!
Anything Goes Trivia
Megaton Man
Tailipoe
Trevor
