P.D.Q. Bach on the Air

P.D.Q. [pseudonym of Peter Schickele] Bach (Composer), Peter Schickele (Conductor), I Virtuosi Hoople (Performer), John Ferrante (Performer)

Product Details

• Performer: I Virtuosi Hoople, John Ferrante
• Conductor: Peter Schickele
• Composer: P.D.Q. [pseudonym of Peter Schickele] Bach
• Audio CD (November 26, 1991)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Vanguard Records
• ASIN: B000000EJT
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #121,955 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Your morning drive time introduction to classical music, August 13, 2002

By	Lawrance M. Bernabo (The Zenith City, Duluth, Minnesota) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)

It was while sitting in Music Appreciation in college that I was first introduced to the work of P.D.Q. Bach, specifically the track "New Horizons in Music Appreciation: Beethoven's Fifth Symphony," in which Professor Peter Schickele and Robert Dennis serve as the announcers for a spirited game involving the first movement of that particular work. Not only was it funny ("He's playing a cadenza! He's out of his mind! He thinks its an oboe concerto!") it was also more informative than the professor ("I get the feeling we are going to hear a lot of that four note motif, Bob").

"P.D.Q. Bach: On The Air" is probably the most thematic of the P.D.Q. Bach albums since its sets its musical schtick in the context of an early morning radio show (to wit, "The Bright and Early Show"), not to be confused with programming from the other end of the broadcast day (wit to, "The Dull and Late Show").
One of the things about P.D.Q. Bach is that the more I learned about classical music the funnier I found it. Yes, I have enough memories of my mother insisting on playing the Texaco Opera quiz loudly throughout the house on a Saturday afternoon to appreciate why "What's my Melodic Line?" and its exploration of the mysteries of the Baroque is funny, but it was not until I watched "Amaedus" that I started to understand the humor on a more musical level. I probably should have paid more attention to that Music Appreciation class long ago and far away, but all I remember is my first exposure to P.D.Q. Bach. However, I am guessing the rest of the stuff in that class might have been interesting as well. Ah, youth.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sportcasters, step aside!, February 5, 1999

By A Customer

Before this CD was untimely ripped from my possesion, I almost wore a hole in track 2. The inimitable play-by-play recounting of Beethoven's 5th Symphony in C minor is something even a complete music novice can appriciate and love-- but if you know anything about music, this CD will have you ROTFL!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best from the Hoople Scoop, October 7, 2002

By	"ramscots" (Tucson, Arizona United States) - See all my reviews

This is my favorite PDQ Bach because it seems to be closest to their roots at the University of Southern North Dakota at Hoople. It's the smallest things that make it best (from What's My Melodic Line): "The first prize is the entire recorded works of Vivaldi (or is it Scarlatti?) on convenient 45 RPM records sent to you once a month for the next 38 years". These guys are definite Baroque snobs, but loveable at every point. I like everything about this CD - especially the "commercials". The high school sports reports are priceless.

Buy this CD and you will never regret it.