Basically, classical music satire, largely based on Greek mythological subjects. If you like puns and music jokes you will love it, I promise. My dad had a cassette tape of "Oedipus Tex" that we listened to in the car on the way to middle school in the mornings, and he would recite me the jokes after they were sung since I had a hard time understanding them on tape. As a result, PDQ Bach comprises a majority of my sense of humor that absolutely no one recognizes when I quote it and then I just end up looking insane. :P Which is a real shame, because Oedipus Tex, being about the long lost brother of Oedipus Rex, is the same story but set in Texas--with such beautiful lines as "And it wasn't long/before he found the woman of his dreams./Her name was Billie-Jo Casta/the queen of the rodeo." Anyway this wouldn't be a proper intro post without an example, so here's "Iphigenia in Brooklyn", my favorite standalone piece. Spoiler: Lyrics for clarity From: Cantata: Iphigenia In Brooklyn, S. 53162 Composer: P.D.Q. Bach (Peter Schickele) ========================= Aria: "As Hyperion across the flaming sky his chariot did ride, Iphigenia herself in Brooklyn found." Recitative: "And lo, she found herself within a market, and all around her fish were dying; and yet their stench did live on." Ground: "Dying, and yet in death alive." Recitative: "And in a vision Iphigenia saw her brother Orestes, who was being chased by the Amenities; and he cried out in anguish: 'Oh ye gods, who knows what it is to be running? Only he who is running knows'." Aria: "Running knows." Please! Discuss! I don't think I've ever met anyone who just knew what PDQ Bach was but to be fair I live in a pretty small town. (Also I am pedantic as shit and I will gladly explain jokes, I am a joke-killing fanatic who knows a lot about music, just ask me!)
aaaaaahhhhhh PDQ Bach is the best! I do not know-know a lot of his stuff but what I have actually heard I love. One of my favourites is the play-by-play of the first movement of Beethoven's Fifth. XD
Aaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh yes I love PDQ Bach! I remember that play-by-play of Beethoven's Fifth...I wonder if I moved it over when I got a new computer. Never mind, found it on YouTube. :)
