|
We have Professor Peter Schickele to thank for introducing the world to PDQ Bach, the '21st of Johann Sebastian Bach's 20 children.' Schickele has created an entire back-story around the 'forgotten son' of the Bach family, noting how amazing it is that PDQ produced any music at all, since he was lazy, and rarely sober. "He did have a drinking problem," Schickele explained, then corrected himself. "Actually, it wasn't a problem because it didn't bother him. He just drank." As for PDQ's creative technique, "A lot of composers compose at the piano. Some composers compose away from the piano. He composed under the piano. And he was often at floor level." PDQ Bach is, of course, the creation of Peter Schickele, who is himself a composer...and not a professor. Out of this persona came more than 100 compositions, 20 recordings and countless concerts, all poking fun at classical music. Schickele and his friends performed PDQ Bach's first concert at The Town Hall in New York City in 1965. Continuing a comedic musical tradition Schickele's inspiration for comedy came from his love for Spike Jones, the musician who added funny sound effects to popular songs in the 1940s. "He had a comedy band, he did take-offs on mostly pop songs of the day, but also on some classical stuff like Carmen and the Nutcracker Suite. And he had all sorts of weird instruments in his orchestra...like gun shots and sirens and things." | 
