From the Vault...

05/24/2009
#1152

info
P.D.Q. Bach
"1712 Overture"


© Telarc Records

Year of Release: 1989
Rating:

track listing
  • Introduction
  • 1712 Overture
  • Introduction
  • Bach Portrait
  • Introduction
  • Capriccio La Pucelle de
    New Orleans
    (The Maid Of
    New Orleans)
  • Introduction
  • Minuet Militaire
  • Introduction
  • Prelude To Einstein On
    The Fritz
  • Introduction
  • The Preachers Of
    Crimetheus
    Ballet In One
    Selfless Act

  • WSVNRadio Archives
    A B C D E F G H I J K L M
    N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

    P.D.Q. Bach related sites:
    P.D.Q. Bach Website
    Wikipedia
    Previous Review: #1151
    Cat Stevens--Catch Bull At Four
    Next Review: #1153
    The Gentrys--Keep On Dancing
    P.D.Q. Bach
    "1712 Overture"



    P.D.Q. Bach is the brainchild of Peter Schickele, a musical satirist. Schickele has emerged the "fictional composer" from the Johann Sebastian Bach family for four decades. My first occurence of P.D.Q. Bach was discovering him in the Classical section of a local music store. As a fellow DJ, two CDs were at this local record store, On The Air and WTWP Classical Talkity-Talk Radio. Both albums focused on a radio DJ format, using a standard radio show with DJ and Classical music. The gentleman who was at the counter mentioned that P.D.Q. Bach was not your commonday arrangement of standard Classical music, as previous customers complained of its comedical nature. P.D.Q. Bach should have really been located in the comedy section of the record store.


    On The Air is truly a fantastic album, mixing the comedy with unique Classical music arrangements. I was eager to listen and learn more of Peter Schickele's work. At the time, there weren't many of the P.D.Q. Bach releases on CD. Now (in 2009), all of the recordings of P.D.Q. Bach are available on CD, as this week we look at the 1989 release of the 1712 Overture And Other Musical Assaults.


    No doubt, there are some Classical pieces throughout this album, such as the title track. As you listen to this particular piece, there are short classical renditions of "Yankee Doodle Dandy" and the Beatles' "Day Tripper." For the overall Classical music lover, this piece can pass as a truly Classical work. It is actually a parody of the 1812 Overture, by Peter Tchaikovsky.


    "Bach Portrait" is a parody of Lincoln Portrait by Aaron Copland, and written by Peter Schickele. Narration is also by Schickele, telling the story of Johann Sebastian Bach. "Cappriccio La Pucelle de New Orleans" (The Maid Of New Orleans is more of a comedy skit. Comedy mixed with Classical music has "Minuet Militaire," yet "Prelude To Einstein On The Fritz" could pass as a regular Classical standard piece. The 3-part "Preachers Of Crimetheus" combines the likes of "instruments", such as the windbreaker, balloons, slide whistle, slide windbreaker, lasso d'amore, foghorn, bells, and kazoo. The remaining two parts are extremely "musical"; not just in the Classical sense, but more Comedy mayhem mixed.


    The liner notes are as interesting (and hilarious) as the music: "Warning! The balloons on track 2, "1712 Overture", the special sound effects on track 6, "Cappriccio La Pucelle de New Orleans" and the foghorn on track 14 index 6, "The Preachers Of Crimetheus" Variation 5 (foghorn, bells, kazoo) are recorded at a realistically high level. Damage could result to speakers or other components if this program is played back at excessively high levels."


    The works of P.D.Q. Bach is more for Comedy fans. It is quite interesting to listen to the Classical pieces that can easily stand out as regular works for Classical related formats. The introductions to each piece are comedic, and some of the Classical music is definitely defined as Comedy. Yet P.D.Q. Bach is quite different, and may not be for all Classical music lovers.


    P.D.Q. Bach is not often heard on all-Classical stations. It easily fits more of the Comedy format, such as hearing a song or two from his "works" on Dr. Demento, or any zany comedy radio shows. WSVNRadio is "Everything in Music." And it is quite entertaining to listen to something different than today's popular music. P.D.Q. is that difference, and can easily give a breath of fresh air to today's standards, as Peter Schickele has been entertaining his own audience for 40 years.


    And by the way, P.D.Q. stands for "Pretty Damn Quick" or "Pretty Darn Quick."


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    Previous Review: #1151
    Cat Stevens--Catch Bull At Four
    Next Review: #1153
    The Gentrys--Keep On Dancing