RIP: Prof. Peter Schickele, aged 88
Jan. 19th, 2024 01:29 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
thewayne*sigh*
Peter Schickele was a brilliant composer, having made over 100 symphonic works of various sizes, many of which were 'discoveries' by the little known lesser member of the Bach family, P.D.Q.
I always remember my introduction to PDQ Bach through an album called Live and On The Air. It was a collection of skits, one of which was an announcer suffering an increasing amount of distortion, culminating in an explosion and then a little voice in the distance explaining that the rear wall of the studio seems to be gone and 'we'll be back in a minute'. There's also a wonderful video of an opera that he made, referenced below, called The Abduction of Figero, conducted by Schickele. One of the mezzos is singing something or other (been quite a while since I last watched it) and she gets mad, culminates in her singing 'In fact, I'm not even going to sing my aria!' and she storms off the stage. Camera cuts to Peter at the podium, leafing through the score, he addresses the orchestra, and says 'Okay, let's skip to the letter Q'.
I always wanted to see him perform live, he was quite an entertaining performer when doing the PDQ material. But he had a problem with PDQ: he was a highly-trained composer, and he had problems when wanting to perform his own material. People were waiting on the edge of their seats for something funny to happen, for the twist! He was kind of trapped by the success of his 'discovered' works. I heard at some of his works he rappelled or bungee jumped from the rafters to his piano to start the show.
From the Muppet Wiki:
Peter Schickele (1935-2024) was a composer and pianist, perhaps best known for his satirical alter-ego P.D.Q. Bach. In the early seasons of Sesame Street, Schickele scored several live action films produced by Mark Sadan and Kirk Smallwood, including three riddle films ("Tomato," "Skin" and "Tire") and "Where the Garbage Goes."
A classically trained musician, Schickele attended Juilliard with Philip Glass. As P.D.Q. Bach, an obscure and questionably talented son of Johann Sebastian Bach, Schickele created a complex history of continually unearthed "lost" recordings and compositions. Notable works include "Grand Serenade for an Awful Lot of Winds and Percussion," "Classical Rap, S. 96th St," "Toot Suite," "Canine Cantata," and the operas The Stoned Guest and Oedipus Tex. He introduced his P.D.Q. Bach concerts as "Professor" Peter Schickele of the University of Southern North Dakota at Hoople.
Under his own name and identity, Schickele co-wrote music and lyrics for the musical Oh! Calcutta! (with Robert Dennis), arranged songs for Joan Baez and Buffy Sainte-Marie, and scored the sci-fi film Silent Running and John Korty's films The Crazy-Quilt and Funnyman. Animation projects included scoring and narrating a video adaptation of Maurice Sendak's work and serving as musical arranger for the "Pomp and Circumstance" segment of Disney's Fantasia 2000.
We were fortunate to have his marvelous humor for as long as we did. He made opera and classical music approachable to all by making fun of it. I'm very sad at his passing, but oh so very glad that he was here, at least for a time.
https://muppet.fandom.com/wiki/Peter_Schickele
Peter Schickele was a brilliant composer, having made over 100 symphonic works of various sizes, many of which were 'discoveries' by the little known lesser member of the Bach family, P.D.Q.
I always remember my introduction to PDQ Bach through an album called Live and On The Air. It was a collection of skits, one of which was an announcer suffering an increasing amount of distortion, culminating in an explosion and then a little voice in the distance explaining that the rear wall of the studio seems to be gone and 'we'll be back in a minute'. There's also a wonderful video of an opera that he made, referenced below, called The Abduction of Figero, conducted by Schickele. One of the mezzos is singing something or other (been quite a while since I last watched it) and she gets mad, culminates in her singing 'In fact, I'm not even going to sing my aria!' and she storms off the stage. Camera cuts to Peter at the podium, leafing through the score, he addresses the orchestra, and says 'Okay, let's skip to the letter Q'.
I always wanted to see him perform live, he was quite an entertaining performer when doing the PDQ material. But he had a problem with PDQ: he was a highly-trained composer, and he had problems when wanting to perform his own material. People were waiting on the edge of their seats for something funny to happen, for the twist! He was kind of trapped by the success of his 'discovered' works. I heard at some of his works he rappelled or bungee jumped from the rafters to his piano to start the show.
From the Muppet Wiki:
Peter Schickele (1935-2024) was a composer and pianist, perhaps best known for his satirical alter-ego P.D.Q. Bach. In the early seasons of Sesame Street, Schickele scored several live action films produced by Mark Sadan and Kirk Smallwood, including three riddle films ("Tomato," "Skin" and "Tire") and "Where the Garbage Goes."
A classically trained musician, Schickele attended Juilliard with Philip Glass. As P.D.Q. Bach, an obscure and questionably talented son of Johann Sebastian Bach, Schickele created a complex history of continually unearthed "lost" recordings and compositions. Notable works include "Grand Serenade for an Awful Lot of Winds and Percussion," "Classical Rap, S. 96th St," "Toot Suite," "Canine Cantata," and the operas The Stoned Guest and Oedipus Tex. He introduced his P.D.Q. Bach concerts as "Professor" Peter Schickele of the University of Southern North Dakota at Hoople.
Under his own name and identity, Schickele co-wrote music and lyrics for the musical Oh! Calcutta! (with Robert Dennis), arranged songs for Joan Baez and Buffy Sainte-Marie, and scored the sci-fi film Silent Running and John Korty's films The Crazy-Quilt and Funnyman. Animation projects included scoring and narrating a video adaptation of Maurice Sendak's work and serving as musical arranger for the "Pomp and Circumstance" segment of Disney's Fantasia 2000.
We were fortunate to have his marvelous humor for as long as we did. He made opera and classical music approachable to all by making fun of it. I'm very sad at his passing, but oh so very glad that he was here, at least for a time.
https://muppet.fandom.com/wiki/Peter_Schickele
no subject
Date: 2024-01-20 07:36 am (UTC)Look at the astrophysics student who joined a rock band instead of completing his PhD. But he did finish it after the band fell apart. He did pretty well for himself, overall: authored a couple of books. Got knighted and makes pretty good residuals with sales of Queen music and his continued performing. Sir Brian May.
no subject
Date: 2024-01-20 09:13 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-01-20 04:21 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-01-21 07:54 am (UTC)Great concert.
I didn't realize the drummer had such a great voice and obviously plays a big part in their songs. :)
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Date: 2024-01-21 08:08 am (UTC)John Deacons. Yeah, he wrote I'm In Love With My Car. I'll bet that was an awesome movie! The bass player retired after Freddie died, he might have played on their first album afterwards, but doesn't want to play anymore. His call.
no subject
Date: 2024-01-21 08:56 am (UTC)I wouldn't want to see them with their new singer.
I heard Stevie Nicks apparently said, she doesn't see a way forward with Christine McVie gone.
I can understand, but at the same time they didn't stop when she temporarily retired, so what would be different?
no subject
Date: 2024-01-21 06:20 pm (UTC)Stevie Nicks is not one of the original members of the band. And as you said, Christine temporarily retired after she burned out from all the touring and her father died during one such tour. She might be looking at her making more money touring solo or with what's-his-face the guitarist who was fired a few years ago.
no subject
Date: 2024-01-22 09:09 am (UTC)I think she's safe all by herself. :)
She's a favorite, so I have seen her a few times. LOL...