“Professor” Schickele had a big influence on this blogger while he was still in school. The purported scholar of the life and works of the “youngest of J. S. Bach’s 20-odd children and certainly the oddest,” Schickele never once let up in public that P. D. Q. Bach was anything but a real composer, and would display mock irritation whenever the existence of his subject was questioned.
Schickele owned a unique brand of comedy. He deftly combined sophisticated musicological jokes, aimed at musicians and those knowledgeable on baroque and classical music, with old-fashioned slapstick and wacky invented musical instruments, such as the “tromboon.” This way, all could laugh themselves silly when attending a P. D. Q. Bach concert.
Schickele was also a “legit” composer, with many serious compositions to his credit, and did studio and soundtrack work as well. Back in the ’60s, I remember noting with surprise his name in the credits of a Joan Baez album, in which he had composed and conducted the lovely arrangements. For I, like so many other P. D. Q. Bach fans, was oblivious to Schickele’s serious side.
After years of intense study of music history and theory, I enjoy going back to my P. D. Q. Bach albums, and inevitably finding more musical jokes, which had gotten by me before.
Rest in peace, Professor. Make those angels laugh.
The Taos Tatler. 