The DC Traveler

P.D.Q. Bach was born in Leipzig in 1742, the son of the famous German composer, Johann Sebastian Bach. Music was in his blood from an early age, but unfortunately, talent was not.

At the age of 13, P.D.Q. worked as an apprentice with the inventor of the musical saw. When his father died, the only possession left to him was a kazoo. By 28, he began writing classical music, mostly by stealing melodies from other popular composers.

His unique musical style incorporated “instruments” not often found in other classical orchestras. He wrote pieces for the tromboon, an instrument that combined the “worst” aspects of trombone and bassoon – a reed and a slide, as well pieces using the slide whistle, the kazoo and the lasso d’amore, a hollow plastic tube that creates a high-pitch whistling sound as it is swung faster and faster.

In an attempt to unsuccessfully revolutionize classical music, he used other non-musical devices, such as bicycles and balloons as part of his orchestra.

His pieces include Baroque, Romantic, modern, and even the combining of classical music with country-western and rap.

According to Peter Schickele, a music historian, composer, performer and creator of his fictions alter-ego P.D.Q. Bach, the most distinguishing feature of P.D.Q.’s music is “manic plagiarism”. According to Schickele, P.D.Q.’s . music was written in three periods: the Initial Plunge, the Soused Period, and Contrition.

With pieces such as Grand Serenade for an Awful Lot of Winds and Percussion, the Toot Suite, Variations on an Unusually Simple-Minded Theme for Piano and Orchestra, The Barber of Seville Goes to the Devil , Variations on “Pop! Goes the Weasel” and the ever-favorite “Unbegun” Symphony, there’s something for every lover of music…or at least every lover of musical humor.

“Serious Fun” with the music of P.D.Q. Bach
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
Concert Hall
2700 F Street, NW
Washington DC. 20566

Date and Time -Thursday, May 10 at 7:00 p.m, Friday, May 11 at 1:30 p.m. and Saturday, May 12 at 8:00 p.m.

Tickets – $20.00 – $80.00 and are available online.

Nearest Metro subway station – Foggy Bottom/George Washington University station (23rd and I St.) – Blue and Orange lines – then a 3-block walk.

There is also a free Kennedy Center shuttle that runs every 15 minutes Monday – Friday from 9:45 a.m.- Midnight, Saturdays 10:00 a.m.- Midnight, and from Noon – Midnight on Sundays.

Parking – limited parking is available at the Kennedy Center for $15.00.

Photo credits: Photos - Peter Schickele, copyright Peter Schaaf

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