Hatrack River Forum: Another little gem by P.D. Q. Bach

This is topic Another little gem by P.D. Q. Bach in forum Books, Films, Food and Culture at Hatrack River Forum.

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Posted by Narnia (Member # 1071) on :

I just thought I'd share my giggle of the day with you dear Hatrack....

"...PDQ Bach (1807-1742?) the last and least of the twenty-odd children of the great Johann Sebastian Bach, and certainly the oddest of the lot."

For one of my final projects I had to plan a high school fall choir concert. Dang is my concert fun. [Smile]

It's also quite reachable for the students which is a new thing for me and one of the coolest things I'm learning. (It's also full of amazingly fun and diverse music, did I mention that?) Anyway, my pretend concert choir will be singing "The Queen to Me a Royal Pain Doth Give" by P.D. Q. Bach. The words are hilarious, I almost peed my pants. The second madrigal in this set is called "My Bonnie Lass She Smelleth" and I'll have to get my hands on that soon. Here are the words to "Queen"

quote:

The Queen the Queen, to me a royal pain doth give.
To see the fair Thusnelda once again
Oy veh.

A Queen who reigns, yet keeps her powder dry,
Must power use where love would best apply
To keep me from Thusnelda once again.
Oy veh.

She fancies me her lad and so, alas,
She bids me bide awhile, her time to pass;
But once her royal cup the Queen doth drain,
The ruler by her servant, Sleep, is slain.
And I to my Thusnelda fly again.
Oy veh.

Just imagine a piece in the tradition of a madrigal with all those crazy suspensions and repetitions of text....yet there are also terrible musical faux pas that make you cringe a little if you're listening hard. The program notes make it clear that those terrible parts are to be sung distinctly and clearly for the audience's enjoyment. The "oy veh" section goes on and on and on until I almost die I'm laughing so hard.

I've never heard anyone perform this, but I will soon if I have anything to do with it. [Smile]

Posted by Phanto (Member # 5897) on :

I thought about it for a while and came to a conclusion. Even if I tried, I could not contribute anything useful to this topic. I seriously am incapable of it.

Maybe if I did some research on the matter...

Posted by Troubadour (Member # 83) on :

Ah... Professor Peter Schickele.... one of the most amazing musical minds.... Can you imagine being able to study under him?

Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :

I miss that guy's radio show so much! I know sort of what a quodelabet is, but not how to spell it sadly.

Posted by BannaOj (Member # 3206) on :

He occasionally gives concerts here in Chicago sometimes "previews" with CSO players before their main concert a week later. Generally scholarly commentary with a dash of humor. They interviewed him on our local classical music radio station like a week ago.

AJ

Posted by Tatiana (Member # 6776) on :

I love his "department of musical pathology". My dad was musically pathological, too. <laughs>

I love PDQ Bach! Narnia I was hoping you had provided a link. Now you have to record it and upload it somewhere so we can hear it done! [Smile]

Posted by Narnia (Member # 1071) on :

I know. [Smile]

First I have to get in charge of a group that could do justice to all the comedy and subtle nuances of bad phrasing and voice leading. [Big Grin]