VocalEssence

VocalEssence
  • Who We Are
    • About VocalEssence
    • Performing Ensembles
    • Staff
    • Collaborators
    • Board of Directors
      • VocalEssence ¡Cantaré! Advisory Council
      • VocalEssence WITNESS Advisory Council
    • Advancing Inclusion, Access, and Equity
  • What We Do
    • Why Sing?
    • Concerts and Events
    • Celebrating Black Excellence
    • Musical Moments with Philip Brunelle
    • Learning and Engagement Programs
    • Contests and Awards
    • Commissioning and Recording
    • Accessibility
  • Stories & Results
    • #vesotashareshope
    • COVID-19 Updates
    • GPS & Friends
    • Inclusion Access and Equity
    • Musical Moments
    • Performing Ensembles
    • Schools & Education
    • Take 5 with GPS
    • Together We Sing
  • Get Involved
    • Donate
      • Bridge to the Future Campaign
    • Engage a Choir
    • Sing with Us
    • Join the Board
    • Volunteer
    • Work at VocalEssence
  • Login
  • On Demand
  • Buy Tickets
  • Donate
Search
More...

Peter Schickele (P.D.Q. Bach) | Musical Moments with Philip Brunelle

March 30, 2020

Share

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • email

In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer Peter Schickele, also known by his alternate persona: P.D.Q. Bach. 

Peter Schickele

b.1935Peter Schickele

Born to a musical family in Ames, Iowa in 1935, Peter Schickele demonstrated his musical talents at a young age. Schickele grew up playing the bassoon and obtained his bachelor’s degree from Swarthmore College. He later attended The Juilliard School and studied composition under Roy Harris, Darius Milhaud, and Vincent Persichetti. In 1965, Schickele first introduced his alternate persona, P.D.Q. Bach, in a concert in New York. Compositions under the pen of P.D.Q. include parodies of existing pieces and outrageous original compositions, often combining styles of music that are very different from one another for comedic effect. Schickele also composes under his own name, and has written for a variety of ensembles and genres, including for orchestra, choir, chamber ensembles, for movies and TV, and has arranged for folk-revivalists like Joan Baez. Schickele’s awards include Grammy Awards for best comedy album of the year for four P.D.Q. albums and two honorary doctorates. 

Suggested choral pieces:

  1. Amazing Grace (Peter Schickele) (Theodore Presser Company 362-03402)
  2. My Bonnie Lass She Smelleth (P.D.Q. Bach) (Theodore Presser Company 312-40795)
  3. Good King Kong Looked Out (P.D.Q. Bach) (Theodore Presser Company 312-41182)
Posted in: Musical Moments
Tags: Composers of the Late 20th-21st Century • United States Composers

Recent Stories

  • Bridge to the Future Meets Goal March 24, 2023
  • VocalEssence Radio Special—Song of Joy: The Mendelssohns on YourClassical MPR March 24, 2023
  • VocalEssence Singers Of This Age Perform at WCCO Holiday Tree Lighting December 22, 2022
  • VocalEssence Holiday Programming 2022 December 15, 2022
  • Thank you for your support at the VocalEssence 2022 Gala! November 4, 2022

Musical Moments

  • #inspiration
  • 2020
  • Argentinan Composers
  • Australian Composers
  • Basque Composers
  • Black Composers
  • Bradley Greenwald
  • British Composers
  • Canadian Composers
  • choir
  • Clara Osowski
  • Composers from Minnesota
  • Composers of the 17th 18th and 19th Centuries
  • Composers of the Early-Mid 20th Century
  • Composers of the Late 20th-21st Century
  • composing
  • concerts
  • Czech Composers
  • Dan Dressen
  • Dutch Composers
  • Early-mid 20th Century
  • Eastern European Composers
  • French Composers
  • German and Austrian Composers
  • Hungarian Composers
  • Italian Composers
  • Late 20th-21st Century
  • Latin American Composers
  • Maria Jette
  • Mexican composers
  • planning
  • Portuguese Composers
  • repertoire
  • Russian Composers
  • Scandinavian Composers
  • Scottish Composers
  • South American Composers
  • Spanish Composers
  • Swiss Composers
  • United States Composers
  • Women Composers
  • About Us
    • About VocalEssence
    • Press Room
    • Annual Report
    • Financial Information
    • Staff
    • Board of Directors
    • VocalEssence COVID Protocols
  • Get Involved
    • Donate
    • Sing with Us
    • Volunteer
    • Work at VocalEssence
  • Connect
    • Email Sign Up
    • Contact Us/Location
    • Chorus Connection
    • VocalEssence Board Login
  • VocalEssence
  • 1900 Nicollet Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55403
  • Phone: 612-547-1451
  • Fax: 612-547-1484
  • info@vocalessence.org
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2023 VocalEssence. All rights reserved.

https://www.vocalessence.org/musical-moments-with-philip-brunelle-march-30-2020

This website uses cookies for necessary functions and to enhance your browsing experience.

Accept & Continue