P.D.Q. Bach Concerts in New York City
Peter Schickele has been discovering works by P.D.Q. Bach since the
early 1950's. And ever since the first big concert at Town Hall in
1964, he has returned to New York each Christmas to perform the latest
of his discoveries for an appreciative audience. Thankfully he still
tours the country doing PDQ Bach during the year (check the Schickele/PDQ Bach Concert Schedule), and the annual
week-after-Christmas concerts are still going strong. This list
contains the information from those performances for which I could
find my copy of the program notes. More contributions are welcome!
- 2001 December 26, 27
- Lincoln Center $70, $62 ... $35, $25
- Peter
Schickele Meets PDQ Bach
- Featuring Michèle Eaton, David Düsing, Ory Brown, Kenneth Jean
- Selected Rounds
- Beatleset
- Swing Sweet, Low Chariot
- If Love is Real
- Songs from Shakespeare
- Oedipus Tex S. 150
- 2000 December 26, 27
- Carnegie Hall $68, $56, $41, $34, $27, $18
- The 1712 Overture and Other Outbreaks of Musical Violence
- Grand Serenade for an Awful Lot of Instruments
- Classical Rap
- ``Safe'' Sextet
- Minuet Militaire
- Fugue of the Volga Boatmen
- 1712 Overture
- 1999 December 27, 29
- Carnegie Hall $46, $36, $28, $25, $16
- Ears Wide Shut
- Canzon per sonar a sei - count them - sei (s. 6)
- Canzonetta La Hooplina ("The Girl from Hoople") (S. 16 going on 30)
- String Quartet in F Major The Moose (S. Y2K) (World Premiere)
Allegro ma non troposphere /
Largo ala Fargo /
Menuetto no sweato /
Grave a molto deepo /
Allegro con brie
- Royal Firewater Musick (Dudeldorf Version) (S. 1/5)
Long; neat; Long /
March on the rocks /
Minuet with a twist /
Sarabande straight up /
One for the road
- Concerto for Piano vs. Orchestra (S. 88)
Allegro Immoderato /
Andante con Mr. Modo /
Vivace liberace /
- 1998 December 27 (2pm matinee), 29
- Carnegie Hall
- Songs My Mother Wouldn't Teach Me the Words To
- Overture to The Abduction of Figaro (S. 384, 492)
- Four Next-to-Last Songs (S. x - 1)
- Prelude to Einstein on the Fritz (S. e=mt)
- No-No Nonette (S. 86)
- Blaues Gras (Bluegrass Cantata) (S. 5-string)
- 1997 December 27, 29
- Carnegie Hall $45, $35, $25, $20
- The Three Bargain-Counter-tenors
- 1996 December 26, 27, 29
- Carnegie Hall $45, $35, $25, $20
- The Great P.D.Q. Bach Sing-in
- Quodlibet
- The Art of the Ground Round (S. $1.19/lb)
- A Consort of Choral Christmas Carols (S. 359)
Throw the Yule Log On, Uncle John / O Little Town of Hackensack / Good
King Kong Looked Out
- Two Hearts, Four Lips, Three Little Words
- Cantata Singalonga: Melior Cave Canem ("Better Watch Out for the
Dog")
- The Seasonings (S. 1/2 tsp)
- 1995 December 27, 29, 30
- Carnegie Hall
- 30 Years of Musical Delectation
- Overture to La Clemenza di Genghis Khan (S. 1227)
- Iphegenia in Brooklyn (S. 52,162)
Trumpet Involuntary / Aria ``When Hyperion'' / Recit ``And lo!'' /
Ground ``Dying'' / Recit ``And in a vision'' / Aria ``Running''
- Canine Cantata: ``Wachet Arf!'' (``Sleeping Dots Awake'') (S. K9)
Entrada / Arietta: ``Ach! Wo, Ach! Wo'' / Berceuse / Aria: ``Bau!
Au!'' / Lamento: ``Au!'' / Finale
- Twelve Quite Heavenly Songs (S. 16 degrees)
Gemini / Cancer / Leo / Virgo / Libra / Scorpio / Sagittarius /
Capricorn / Aquarius / Pisces / Aries / Taurus
- The Preachers of Crimetheus, Ballet in One Selfless Act (S. 988)
Prologue (Bottomless Sorrow; Topless Gaiety) / The Lamentations of
Jerry Maja / Finale (Theme and Variations): Special Deliverance
- The 27 December performance featured an unscheduled guest appearance by
Itzhak Perlman, playing a fragment of a newly-discovered violin concerto by
P.D.Q. Bach.
- 1994 December 26, 28, 30
- Carnegie Hall
- It is to Laugh, It is to Cry
- Uptown Hoedown
- Short Tempered Clavier [NY premiere]
- La Pucelle de New Orleans
- Howdy Symphony
- 1993 December 27, 28, 30
- Carnegie Hall
- Two Pianists are Better Than One
- Gross Concerto
- Chaconne à son Goût [P. Schickele]
- The Musical Sacrifice
- Concerto for Two Pianos vs. Orchestra [20th Century premiere]
- 1992 December 26, 28, 30
- Carnegie Hall
- Music for an Awful Lot of Winds and Percussion
- Fanfare for Fred (S. F4F) [NY premiere]
- March of the Cute Little Wood Sprites (S. Onesy Twosy)
- Six Contrary Dances (S. 39)
Maestoso animoso /
Daintissimo /
Allegro, but not too mucho /
Molto moderato /
Vivace cucarace /
Moving right alongo
- Last Tango in Bayreuth [P. Schickele]
- Lip My Reeds (S. 32') [NY premiere]
- ``Dutch'' Suite in G Major (S. -16)
Mr. Minuit's Minuet /
Panther Dance /
Dance of the Grand Dams /
The Lowland Fling
- Grand Serenade for an Awful Lot of Winds and Percussion (S. 1000)
Grand Entrance /
Simply Grand Minuet /
Romance in the Grand Manner /
Rondo Mucho Grando
- 1991 December 26, 28, 30
- Carnegie Hall
- An Evening of Music for People Who Can't Get It Together
- ``Safe'' Sextet [NY premiere]
- Rounds for Squares [first performance]
- Four Curmudgeonly Cannons
- Two Madrigals from ``The Triumphs of Thusnelda'' (S. 1601)
The Queen to me a royal pain doth give /
My bonnie lass she smelleth
- Eine Kliene Nichtmusik
- Fantasieshtick
- 1990 December 26, 28, 30
- Carnegie Hall
- Third Annual 25th Anniversary Concert: The Debacle of the
Decade
- Birthday Ode to ``Big Daddy'' Bach
- Classical Rap (New York Premiere)
- Choral Cantata: ``Knock, Knock'' (New York Premiere)
- ``Oedipus Tex'' (Oratorio Version)
- encore: Should
- 1989 December 26, 28, 30
- Carnegie Hall
- Pan demonium
- Four Folk Song Upsettings (New York Premiere)
- Prelude to ``Einstein on the Fritz''
- Variations on an unusually simple-minded theme
- ``The Magic Bassoon'' (opera in one cathartic act) (New York Premiere)
- Note: December 30 Dana Krueger was sick, so other works were
substituted for the premiere pieces: Little Notebook for Piggy Bach (NY
Premiere), Unbegun Symphony
- encore: Prelude in C
- 1988 December 27, 28, 30, January 1
- Carnegie Hall
- On the Dilemmas of a Horn
- Minuet Militaire (New York Premiere)
- Bach Portrait
- The Preachers of Crimetheus (New York Premiere)
- Capriccio: ``La Pucelle de New Orleans'' (``The Maid of New Orleans'')
- Breakfast Antiphonies (New York Premiere)
- 1987 December 26, 27, 28, 30
- Carnegie Hall
- Bassooning His Way into Your Heart
- Sonata Innamorata (World Premiere)
- Prelude to ``Einstein on the Fritz'' (World Premiere)
- Andante Cantabile [F. J. Haydn]
- Canine Cantata: ``Wachet Arf!''
- Echo Sonata for two unfriendly groups of instruments
- Concerto for Bassoon vs. Orchestra
- 1986 December 26, 27, 28, 30
- Carnegie Hall
- Oedipus Tex
- Birthday Ode to "Big Daddy" Bach (New York Premiere)
- Quodlibet
- A Consort of Choral Christmas Carols
- Oedipus Tex (New York Premiere)
- encore: Should
- 1985 December 27, 28, 29, 30
- Carnegie Hall
- Absolutely, positively the last J.S. Bach tercentennial
tribute
- Schleptet
- Bach Portrait [P. Schickele] (World Premiere)
- Gross Concerto No. 2 (New York Premiere)
- Concerto for Piano vs. Orchestra
- encore: Allemande Left
- 1984 December 27, 28, 29, 30
- Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center
- Vocal Highlights of a Musical Lowlife
- Excerpts from ``The Abduction of Figaro,'' Simply Grand Opera in Three
Acts (S. 384,492) (New York Premiere)
Overture /
Aria: Stay with me /
Aria: Fish gotta swim /
Dance of the Seven Pails /
Aria: You can beat me /
Aria: Macho, macho /
Duet: I am a swineherd /
Quintet and chorus: Ah, though we must part /
First Act Finale
- Two Madrigals from ``The Triumphs of Thusnelda'' (S. 1601)
The Queen to me a royal pain doth give /
My bonnie lass she smelleth
- Missa Hilarious (S. N2O)
- 1983 December 27, 28, 30, January 1
- Carnegie Hall
- New Horizons in Music Appreciation
- Suite from the Civilian Barber
- Chaconne a son gout
- New Horizons in Music Appreciation
- Variations on an Unusually Simple-Minded Theme (New York
Premiere)
- 1982 December 27, 28, 30, January 2
- Carnegie Hall
- A Little Nightmare Music
- Featuring John Ferrante
- Royal Firewater Music
- A Little Nightmare Musick (World Premiere)
- Sonata Piccola (World Premiere)
- Art of the Ground Round
- 1981 December 26, 27, 28, 30
- Carnegie Hall
- Featuring John Ferrante
- Howdy Symphony
- Octoot (World Premiere)
- Iphegenia in Brooklyn
- La Pucelle de New Orleans (World Premiere)
- Fantasieshtick
- 1980 December 26, 27, 28, 30
- Carnegie Hall
- Featuring John Ferrante
- Black Forest Bluegrass Blaues Gras
- Shepherd on the Rocks, with a Twist (New York Premiere)
- Pervertimento for Bagpipe, Bicycle and Balloons
- Gross Concerto
- The Musical Sacrifice
1979 December 27, 28, 29, 30
Avery Fisher Hall
Featuring John Ferrante and Harris Poor
Liebeslieder Polkas (New York Premiere)
Dutch Suite (New York Premiere)
Hindenburg Concerto
The Seasonings
1978
Carnegie Hall
Featuring John Ferrante, Marilyn Brustadt, Pyramid Sellers,
Toto [the dog]
Peruckenstuck
Blaues Gras (World Premiere)
The Stoned Guest
1977 December 27, 28, 30
Avery Fisher Hall
No-no Nonette (World Premiere)
Unbegun Symphony
Suite from the Civilian Barber
Fuga Meshuga (World Premiere)
Fantasieshtick (World Premiere)
1976 December 26, 28, 30
Carnegie Hall
Howdy Symphony (World Premiere)
Royal Firewater Music (World Premiere)
Consort of Choral Christmas Carols (World Premiere)
Eine Kleine Nichtmusik
Missa Hilarious
1975 December 28, 29
Avery Fisher Hall
Featuring Anna Russell, DA Brooklyn Boys Choir, N.Y. Pickup
Ensemble
Desecration of the House Overture
Walled Stein Sonata
Trite Quintet
Hindenburg Concerto
Missa Hilarious (premiere)
1974 December 26, 27
Avery Fisher Hall
Preconcert: The Bassoonettes (New York Bassoon Quartet)
Suite from The Civilian Barber (premiere)
The Grossest Fugue (premiere)
Chaconne a Son Gout (premiere)
Cantata: Wachet Arf (premiere)
Fanfare For the Common Cold (premiere)
Concerto for Bassoon vs. Orchestra (premiere)
1973 December 26, 27, 28, 29 (2), 30
Town Hall
The Intimate P.D.Q. Bach
Preconcert: Kaminsky International Kazoo Quartet
Notebook for Betty-Sue Bach (excerpts)
Toot Suite in C minor
Diverse Aires on Sundrie Notions
Erotica Variations
slide show
Hansel and Gretel and Ted and Alice
1972 December 26, 29
Philharmonic Hall
Featuring John Nelson, John Ferrante
Iphegenia in Brooklyn
Serenude for Devious Instruments
The Art of the Ground Round
Pervertimento
Toot Suite for Calliope Four Hands
Unbegun Symphony
1971 December 26, 27
Philharmonic Hall
Featuring Barbara Hendricks, Barbara Martin, John Ferrante,
Raymond Buckingham
Trite Quintet (premiere)
Notebook for Betty-Sue Bach (premiere)
My Bonnie Lass She Smelleth
The Seasonings
1970 December 27, 28
Philharmonic Hall
Schleptet in Eb
Gross Concerto
New Horizons in Music Appreciation (Bob Dennis)
Concerto for Piano vs. Orchestra (new 3rd movement)
1969 No concert!
1968 December 23, 28, 31
Philharmonic Hall
A few MADrigals
Toot Suite in C minor (Three Grinders)
Concerto for Piano vs. Orchestra (Concerto No. 13 in Bb,
Elvira Mulligan)
The Stoned Guest
1967 December 27, 29, 31
Philharmonic Hall
Featuring Claudine Carlson, Haywood, Ferrante, Bernice
Serenude (premiere)
Eine Kleine Nichtmusick
one or two other works, maybe the Schleptet?
The Stoned Guest (premiere)
1966 December 22, 26, 30, 31
Carnegie and Philharmonic Hall
Featuring Ferrante, Lorna Haywood, Royal Festival Orchestra and
Okay Chorale
Diverse Aires on Sundrie Notions (premiere)
Eine Kleine Nichtmusick (premiere)
Perucken Stucke (premiere)
Echo Sonata (premiere)
The Seasonings
1965 December 28
Philharmonic Hall
Featuring Ferrante, Malcolm Smith, Patricia Brooks, Marlena
Kleinman,
Hambro, Froelich
Concerto for Horn and Hardart
Cantata: Iphegenia in Brooklyn
Pathetic Symphony (later renamed Unbegun )
Pervertimento for Bagpipes, Bicycle and Balloons
The Seasonings
1965 April 24
Town Hall
Concerto for Horn and Hardart
Cantata: Iphegenia in Brooklyn
Gross Concerto
Quodlibet
Sinfonia Concertante
Many thanks to Lloyd Peterson
for detailed information about the first nineteen years!
Related sites:
mwm@cmu.edu