Role

:

Composer

Country

:

United States of America

Birth

:

April 1, 1742 in Leipzig, Germany

Death

:

May 5, 1807 in Wein-am-Rhein

Period

:

Contemporary

 

 

Modern

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Choral

 

 

Orchestral

 

 

Vocal

 

P.D.Q. Bach, also known as Peter Schickele, was a classical music composer who was born on July 17, 1935, in Ames, Iowa. He was the son of a Lutheran minister and grew up in a musical family. His father played the organ and his mother sang in the church choir. Schickele began playing the piano at a young age and showed a talent for music early on. Schickele attended Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania, where he studied music and played in the college orchestra. After graduating in 1957, he went on to study at the Juilliard School in New York City. It was during his time at Juilliard that Schickele first became interested in the music of Johann Sebastian Bach. In 1959, Schickele began performing as P.D.Q. Bach, a fictional composer who was supposedly the youngest and least talented son of Johann Sebastian Bach. P.D.Q. Bach's music was a parody of classical music, often featuring absurd titles and musical jokes. Schickele performed P.D.Q. Bach's music in concerts and on recordings, and the character became a cult favorite among classical music fans. Over the years, Schickele composed a large body of music under the name P.D.Q. Bach. Some of his most famous works include "The Abduction of Figaro," a parody of Mozart's "The Marriage of Figaro," and "The Short-Tempered Clavier," a parody of Bach's "Well-Tempered Clavier." He also wrote a number of humorous pieces for orchestra, including "The Pervertimento for Bagpipes, Bicycle and Balloons." In addition to his work as P.D.Q. Bach, Schickele was also a respected composer in his own right. He wrote a number of serious works for orchestra, including "Concerto for Viola and Orchestra" and "Concerto for Bassoon and Orchestra." He also composed music for film and television, including the theme music for the popular children's show "Reading Rainbow." Schickele continued to perform and compose music throughout his life. He received numerous awards and honors for his work, including a Grammy Award for Best Comedy Recording in 1990. He also taught music at various universities, including the University of Southern California and the University of Minnesota. Peter Schickele passed away on June 15, 2021, at the age of 86. He left behind a legacy as one of the most innovative and entertaining composers of the 20th century. His music, both as P.D.Q. Bach and under his own name, continues to be enjoyed by classical music fans around the world.

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