1712 Overture and Other Musical Assaults
Encyclopedia
1712 Overture and Other Musical Assaults is a classical music
album released in 1989
by Telarc Records. The album contains works by P. D. Q. Bach
, the alter ego of Professor Peter Schickele
(as well as tracks credited to Schickele himself). It is scored "for really big orchestra
and some not-quite so big ensembles, plus unique on-location introductions, spoken on the very historical spots where the actual history happened."
The Preachers of Crimetheus, a ballet in one selfless act, S. 988 (P.D.Q. Bach) (12:27)
Caution! Digital Sound Effects
"Warning! The balloons on track 2, the special sound effects on track 6, and the foghorn on track 14 index 6, are recorded at a realistically high level. Damage could result to speakers or other components if this program is played back at excessively high levels."
—from the CD liner notes
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
album released in 1989
1989 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1989.-Events:*January 14 – Paul McCartney releases Снова в СССР exclusively in the USSR...
by Telarc Records. The album contains works by P. D. Q. Bach
P. D. Q. Bach
P. D. Q. Bach is a fictitious composer invented by musical satirist "Professor" Peter Schickele. In a gag that Schickele has developed over a five-decade-long career, he performs "discovered" works of this forgotten member of the Bach family...
, the alter ego of Professor Peter Schickele
Peter Schickele
Johann Peter Schickele is an American composer, musical educator, and parodist. He is best known for his comedy music albums featuring his music that he presents as music written by the fictional composer P. D. Q...
(as well as tracks credited to Schickele himself). It is scored "for really big orchestra
Orchestra
An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
and some not-quite so big ensembles, plus unique on-location introductions, spoken on the very historical spots where the actual history happened."
Performers
- Professor Peter Schickele, conductor, narrator, pianist, devious instrumentalist and intellectual guide
- The Greater Hoople Area Off-Season Philharmonic, Walter Bruno, conductor
- I Virtuosi di Hoople
Track listing
- Introduction (1:35)
- 1712 Overture, S. 1712 (P.D.Q. Bach) (11:33)
(Parody of the 1812 Overture1812 OvertureThe Year 1812, Festival Overture in E flat major, Op. 49, popularly known as the 1812 Overture or the Overture of 1812 is an overture written by Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky in 1880 to commemorate Russia's defense of Moscow against Napoleon's advancing Grande Armée at the Battle of...
by Pyotr Ilyich TchaikovskyPyotr Ilyich TchaikovskyPyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (Russian: Пётр Ильи́ч Чайко́вский ; often "Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky" in English. His names are also transliterated "Piotr" or "Petr"; "Ilitsch", "Il'ich" or "Illyich"; and "Tschaikowski", "Tschaikowsky", "Chajkovskij"...
) - Introduction (1:12)
- Bach Portrait (Prof. Schickele) (14:32)
(Parody of Lincoln PortraitLincoln PortraitLincoln Portrait is a classical orchestral work written by the American composer Aaron Copland. The work involves a full orchestra, with particular emphasis on the brass section at climactic moments. The work is narrated with the reading of excerpts of Abraham Lincoln's great documents, including...
by Aaron CoplandAaron CoplandAaron Copland was an American composer, composition teacher, writer, and later in his career a conductor of his own and other American music. He was instrumental in forging a distinctly American style of composition, and is often referred to as "the Dean of American Composers"...
) - Introduction (2:53)
- CapriccioCapriccio (music)A capriccio or caprice , is a piece of music, usually fairly free in form and of a lively character...
La Pucelle de New Orleans (The Maid of New Orleans), S. under 18 (P.D.Q. Bach) (3:25) - Introduction (1:14)
- Minuet Militaire, S. 1A (P.D.Q. Bach) (3:41)
- Introduction (1:33)
- Prelude to Einstein on the Fritz, S. e=mt² (P.D.Q. Bach) (6:37)
(A parody on the title of the opera Einstein on the BeachEinstein on the BeachEinstein on the Beach is an opera that premiered on July 25, 1976 at the Avignon Festival in France, scored and written by Philip Glass and designed and directed by theatrical producer Robert Wilson. It also contains writings by Christopher Knowles, Samuel M. Johnson and Lucinda Childs...
by Philip GlassPhilip GlassPhilip Glass is an American composer. He is considered to be one of the most influential composers of the late 20th century and is widely acknowledged as a composer who has brought art music to the public .His music is often described as minimalist, along with...
and of Glass's music in general.) - Introduction (1:47)
The Preachers of Crimetheus, a ballet in one selfless act, S. 988 (P.D.Q. Bach) (12:27)
- I. Prologue (Bottomless Sorrow; Topless Gaiety) (3:18)
- II. The Lamentations of Jerry Maja (3:06)
- III. Finale: Special Deliverance (5:57)
-
- Index 1: Theme (windbreaker) (0:35)
- Index 2: Variation 1 (balloonBalloonA balloon is an inflatable flexible bag filled with a gas, such as helium, hydrogen, nitrous oxide, oxygen, or air. Modern balloons can be made from materials such as rubber, latex, polychloroprene, or a nylon fabric, while some early balloons were made of dried animal bladders, such as the pig...
s) (0:24) - Index 3: Variation 2 (slide whistleSlide whistleA slide whistle is a wind instrument consisting of a fipple like a recorder's and a tube with a piston in it. Thus it has an air reed like some woodwinds, but varies the pitch with a slide. The construction is rather like a bicycle pump...
) (1:06) - Index 4: Variation 3 (slide windbreakerWindbreakerA windbreaker is a thin outer coat designed to resist wind chill and light rain . It is usually of light construction, characteristically made of some type of synthetic material and often incorporating an elastic waistband and zipper...
) (0:16) - Index 5: Variation 4 (lasso d'amoreLasso d'amoreThe lasso d'amore is an experimental musical instrument made of corrugated plastic tubing, employed in some of Peter Schickele's comic P. D. Q. Bach compositions such as the Erotica Variations and Shepherd on the Rocks with a Twist...
) (2:31) - Index 6: Variation 5 (foghornFoghornA foghorn or fog signal or fog bell is a device that uses sound to warn vehicles of hazards or boats of the presence of other vehicles in foggy conditions. The term is most often used in relation to marine transport...
, bellsBell (instrument)A bell is a simple sound-making device. The bell is a percussion instrument and an idiophone. Its form is usually a hollow, cup-shaped object, which resonates upon being struck...
, kazooKazooThe kazoo is a wind instrument which adds a "buzzing" timbral quality to a player's voice when the player vocalizes into it. The kazoo is a type of mirliton, which is a membranophone, a device which modifies the sound of a person's voice by way of a vibrating membrane."Kazoo" was the name given by...
) (1:05)
Caution! Digital Sound Effects
"Warning! The balloons on track 2, the special sound effects on track 6, and the foghorn on track 14 index 6, are recorded at a realistically high level. Damage could result to speakers or other components if this program is played back at excessively high levels."
—from the CD liner notes
Awards
Grammy Awards| Year | Winner | Category |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 1712 Overture and Other Musical Assaults | Best Comedy Album Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album The Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album was awarded from yearly 1959 to 1993 and then from 2004 to present day. There have been several minor changes to the name of the award over this time:*From 1959 to 1967 it was Best Comedy Performance... |