He was a very nice guy. I got him to sign my copy of the Biogrpahy of PDQ Bach.
He WILL be missed.
I loved the Concerto for Horn & Hardart.
Rest in peace.
Every once in a while some line or satirical situation from his albums come into my mind.
As PDQ Bach’s most successful composition contained not one original musical phrase but was taken from others’ work. Listeners at the concert hall went out humming from his concert.
Schumann announced the arrival of Chopin, the young unknown composer, with the prophetic words, “Hats off gentlemen, a genius!”
When hearing PDQ Bach it was said “Hats back on, gentlemen, an idiot.”
One composition was The Dairy Queen.
One requiring elaborate movement from side to side of the organ pedals was known as the Tootsie Roll.
I use to love PDQ Bach back in the day.
you've got the money, honey, I've got the thyme, if you've got the money, honey, I've got the thyme; bide thy thyme somehow.
I've got the time if you've got the inclination, I've got the time if you've got the inclination; Bide thy thyme for now."
RIP. I hope they play a requiem by PDQ Bach at Schickele’s funeral.
I was fortunate to see him in concert back in my youth when I was just starting to learn the WTC book 1. Watching Shickle run down the aisle and flop onto the stage at the last possible moment that the concert was supposed to start - hilarious. Watchet Arf with the giant sheep dog....priceless!
Love PDQ Bach
I first heard some P.D.Q. Bach in 1976 and loved it. RIP Prof. Schickele. You were the best kind of lunatic.
Schickele was a teacher at Julliard until he wrote a piece called “Variations on a Rock and Roll Theme.” He was fired for that. That was when he invented PDQ Bach.
He got thrown out of Juilliard for being too good!
Thanks for posting this. I read it via Instapundit the other day, it’s a great obit.
Not super familiar with PDQ Bach, but did have one album, hilarious!
I had the pleasure of performing in “The Seasonings”. I played the tromboon (combination of trombone and bassoon, not really difficult for a reed player) and sneeze.
“Open sesame seeds and see what you see...”
RIP. Clever and funny and someone who gave the gift of laughter.
In case you missed the thread!
I have quite a bit of PDQ Bach in my mix. Some of it is really funny. Gotta be a music nerd though.
Only he who is running nose.