Composer

:

Peter Schickele

Genre

:

Miscellaneous

Style

:

Miscellaneous

Average_duration

:

17:57

"Spoken Introductions to Works of P.D.Q. Bach" is a humorous composition by Peter Schickele, premiered in 1965. The piece consists of a series of spoken introductions to imaginary works by the fictional composer P.D.Q. Bach, who is portrayed as the "last and least" of Johann Sebastian Bach's sons. The introductions are delivered by Schickele in character as Professor Peter Schickele, a musicologist and self-proclaimed expert on P.D.Q. Bach. The piece is divided into several movements, each of which introduces a different imaginary work by P.D.Q. Bach. The first movement introduces the "Concerto for Horn and Hardart," a piece supposedly written for a player piano and a horn. The second movement introduces the "Erotica Variations," a set of variations on a theme by Mozart that supposedly depict various sexual acts. The third movement introduces the "Unbegun Symphony," a symphony that was never actually written by P.D.Q. Bach. The characteristics of "Spoken Introductions to Works of P.D.Q. Bach" are its humor and satire. Schickele uses the character of P.D.Q. Bach to poke fun at classical music and its conventions, as well as to parody various musical styles and genres. The piece is also notable for its use of wordplay and puns, as well as its use of musical jokes and references. Overall, "Spoken Introductions to Works of P.D.Q. Bach" is a lighthearted and entertaining piece that showcases Schickele's wit and musical talent. It has become a beloved classic in the world of classical music humor, and has inspired numerous other works in a similar vein.

More....