I saw PDQ Bach live in 1971 at ISU. The concert was scheduled to begin at 8 PM. We sat in the audience and waited...and waited...and waited...until about 8:10 PM...then he came running from the balcony, threw a rope over the edge, and slid down the rope to run up onto the stage and begin the performance. It was hilarious, especially for a ten year old!
Believe it or not, even though I've heard about this work (especially the finale aka The Grossest Fugue) and have adored P.D.Q. Bach's music since I first heard it in 1974, this is the very first time I've ever actually heard The Musical Sacrifice. Hilarious! I remember attending a P.D.Q. Bach concert in the 1970's and there was an elderly couple a row or two in front of me exchanging looks of utter disgust. Evidently they heard the name Bach and thought it would be a straightforward "serious" concert and here were people laughing -- like, how DARE they!! :D
If people are wondering why the players are turning their backs etc. 2-3 mins in, I'm guessing it because the theme is being inverted and played backwards.
I just read about Peter in a local free paper called The Valley Advocate!! Glad I caught the article and now am seeing these fantastic videos!! P.S. Peter/ PDQ will be performing live @ the Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield MA. 7/26/14
My all-time favorite PDQ composition was the Concerto for Double-Reed Slide Music Stand. I made one and learned the solo part by ear. It was easier than you might guess because of the limited range of the instrument, about a minor third. It was one of the highlights of my youthful musical career.
This is one of the few PDQ works I do not know well, and I thoroughly enjoyed your spirited, fabulous performance. This is what great music and performing is all about. I hope you sent this to Schickele himself. Bravo! :)
The theme is the Mysterioso Pizzicato, first published in 1914 in a folio of music for silent movies. (Realized recently that the Munsters theme is based on it as well-Los Straitjackets lampshaded the similarity in one of their concerts.)
Love this piece! It is one of my favorite P.D.Q. Bach pieces and this rendition of it is great! I personally prefer their sixth movement to the version on "Two Pianos Are Better Than One."
@@BennyLlama39 Flatted third of the scale. A minor third played alone in the midst of a major scale. I forget how it's done in a minor key. Now you've got me on a quest...
peter schickele actually loves prokofiev! he did a great narration of peter and the wolf, with new story and text called, "sneaky pete and the wolf" :)
I recognise two pieces this music this work is referencing. The main one throughout I know as a famous villain's theme or character sneak piece from silent movies. I can't quite place the other one, the more romantic theme that plays about 3/4 of the way through tho...
+David Beamer Perhaps the Prof" intended to suggest that music itself was the sacrifice. He inclines to the sardonic at times. ALWAYS funny as Hell, though,,,
You're right, of course. The German title of the Bach piece is Das Musikalische Opfer, which is translated into English as The Musical Offering. However, Opfer also means "sacrifice" in German, so the good professor used that translation for the title of this piece. And there are some similarities in themes between the two works. BTW, a word to the wise: beware of Germans bearing Gift, for that word means "poison" in English.
This is the craziest composition ever
I saw PDQ Bach live in 1971 at ISU. The concert was scheduled to begin at 8 PM. We sat in the audience and waited...and waited...and waited...until about 8:10 PM...then he came running from the balcony, threw a rope over the edge, and slid down the rope to run up onto the stage and begin the performance. It was hilarious, especially for a ten year old!
Did the same at the Tampa Theatre in Tampa Florida GREAT
That was his standard schtick until he could no longer physically do it.
Believe it or not, even though I've heard about this work (especially the finale aka The Grossest Fugue) and have adored P.D.Q. Bach's music since I first heard it in 1974, this is the very first time I've ever actually heard The Musical Sacrifice. Hilarious! I remember attending a P.D.Q. Bach concert in the 1970's and there was an elderly couple a row or two in front of me exchanging looks of utter disgust. Evidently they heard the name Bach and thought it would be a straightforward "serious" concert and here were people laughing -- like, how DARE they!! :D
If people are wondering why the players are turning their backs etc. 2-3 mins in, I'm guessing it because the theme is being inverted and played backwards.
Retrograde inversion: a canon form from WAAAYYY back.
One hundred years from now people will think this was serious music.
What the World Needs Now --
More 'The Villians Theme'
Can't help but wonder where these fine musicians are today.
Thanks to the stage directions (stand up when playing, etc.), you really understand what a fugue is.
I have a stack of PDQ BACH CDs, and was fortunate to have been to one of his concerts. This beats them all and lifts me out of COVID depression.
At 15:19 the piccolo plays the actual king's theme from Bach's Musical Offering.
And at 12:58 is the theme from the Great Fugue in G Minor
!Within these parodic works there is some mighty fine and very solid MUZICK
Some good music lurking about there.
There's a certain motif that I seem to recognize in this piece. Such a full sound, too. Sounds like an entire orchestra in places.
I just read about Peter in a local free paper called The Valley Advocate!! Glad I caught the article and now am seeing these fantastic videos!! P.S. Peter/ PDQ will be performing live @ the Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield MA. 7/26/14
My all-time favorite PDQ composition was the Concerto for Double-Reed Slide Music Stand. I made one and learned the solo part by ear. It was easier than you might guess because of the limited range of the instrument, about a minor third. It was one of the highlights of my youthful musical career.
drmichaelshea could you link me a performance? I'm intrigued
This is one of the few PDQ works I do not know well, and I thoroughly enjoyed your spirited, fabulous performance. This is what great music and performing is all about. I hope you sent this to Schickele himself. Bravo! :)
The theme is the Mysterioso Pizzicato, first published in 1914 in a folio of music for silent movies. (Realized recently that the Munsters theme is based on it as well-Los Straitjackets lampshaded the similarity in one of their concerts.)
Notice the visual way that 'retrograde' and 'inversion' and 'retrograde inversion' are presented in the opening Fuga Meshuga.
YIKES! MagNIFicent performance! Thank you.
Love this piece! It is one of my favorite P.D.Q. Bach pieces and this rendition of it is great! I personally prefer their sixth movement to the version on "Two Pianos Are Better Than One."
The full title of this piece is "The Musical Sacrifice" (S. 50% off)
Very nicely done!
As a mover, the grand piano in the back, is quite terrifying. The musical accompaniment is perfect. j.
thank you!
As a trombonist, I'm offended. I demand equal time for the trombone player!
welcome to the world of being a double bass player
+Jasmine Enya - That's what jazz is for.
But she got the blue note! Yay!
What the hell is the blue note?
@@BennyLlama39 Flatted third of the scale. A minor third played alone in the midst of a major scale. I forget how it's done in a minor key. Now you've got me on a quest...
The trombonist at 1 25 is like brah, i feel her
How could I have missed this?
Great!
lol this really sounded like Prokofiev
peter schickele actually loves prokofiev! he did a great narration of peter and the wolf, with new story and text called, "sneaky pete and the wolf" :)
I recognise two pieces this music this work is referencing. The main one throughout I know as a famous villain's theme or character sneak piece from silent movies. I can't quite place the other one, the more romantic theme that plays about 3/4 of the way through tho...
"Spring Song."
He used the same plaintive theme in one of his “Two Part Contraptions”.
Minor edit -- "MusicAL Sacrifice" (not just "Music")
+David Beamer Perhaps the Prof" intended to suggest that music itself was the sacrifice. He inclines to the sardonic at times. ALWAYS funny as Hell, though,,,
You're right, of course. The German title of the Bach piece is Das Musikalische Opfer, which is translated into English as The Musical Offering. However, Opfer also means "sacrifice" in German, so the good professor used that translation for the title of this piece. And there are some similarities in themes between the two works.
BTW, a word to the wise: beware of Germans bearing Gift, for that word means "poison" in English.
OP’s point still stands. Schickele titled the piece not “The Music Sacrifice,” as given here, but “The Musical Sacrifice.”
Video Like
Typical PDQ Bach: Duet for piccolo and trombone. One might consider both to be intrinsically funny instruments.
14:30 lmao
Lol. The Musical Offering. I wonder what Frederic would make of it. :-)
+Mike Cimerian Probably would have laughed his ass off, stuck it in his desk, and promised his musicians that he would never make them play it again.
"Well! I can make an airplane, or a hat… or a brontosaurus! GRRR!"
Airplane reference out of left field. 😀
Poker face preserved although almost lost at the bass side once in a while.
Could I get the sheet music?
🤣🤣🤣GREAT!! 😂😂😂
Trombone: 😳😳😳😳🤔😒😔🙄🙁😪
Y u not write good bass instrument parts? Poor trombonist. I feel you, I play the harp, I usually get no part.
Was this performed at Disney? Or is the flute player just a huge fan of Mickey Mouse?
1:41
Just had to send you a like since you have the same name as me and are also a PDQ Bach fan!!!! :)