Peter Schickele grew up in Fargo, North Dakota, where I was born and raised. He graduated from Fargo Central High School in 1952, and when I was in high school (1958-62), teachers were still talking about him! I saw him perform as P.D.Q. Bach once, at the Chicago Symphony orchestra--quite a hoot!
Helen, this is fantastic! Sam said he used to listen to Schickele's radio program. I noticed in the Bach Birthday book the reference to P. D. Q., in the picture of Bach with 3D glasses, "D. D. D. Bach". Thanks for this interesting information about Schickele.
I remember that house! I was there as a child with my father. My main two memories are standing in the studio looking at that big fireplace and your father asking my father what to do about all the bats that were living behind the fireplace! My other memory is a taxidermied snake...something Ricky had maybe?
You have a great memory! The snake was a painted clay model my brother made, very realistic, to scale (no pun!) and correct coloring. Snakes and gorillas were two of his scientific interests as a child.
When I was a child and taking piano lessons I had the benefit of perfect pitch and a "good ear". I would ask my teacher to play a new song she had given me and then although I had the music from learn it basically by ear. With Bach I couldn't do that. It was too complicated. For that reason I really like Bach because of the challenge. When I learned one of his pieces I had REALLY learned it!
Isabel, I too took piano lessons, and can appreciate what you say about Bach being exceptional. It's wonderful that (perhaps today?) you could play one of his pieces. How beautiful!
Thanks, Deda, for sharing such a delightful book! Have a great week. Joy!
Your post are always so interesting and inspirational! Thank you!
Peter Schickele grew up in Fargo, North Dakota, where I was born and raised. He graduated from Fargo Central High School in 1952, and when I was in high school (1958-62), teachers were still talking about him! I saw him perform as P.D.Q. Bach once, at the Chicago Symphony orchestra--quite a hoot!
Helen, this is fantastic! Sam said he used to listen to Schickele's radio program. I noticed in the Bach Birthday book the reference to P. D. Q., in the picture of Bach with 3D glasses, "D. D. D. Bach". Thanks for this interesting information about Schickele.
I remember that house! I was there as a child with my father. My main two memories are standing in the studio looking at that big fireplace and your father asking my father what to do about all the bats that were living behind the fireplace! My other memory is a taxidermied snake...something Ricky had maybe?
You have a great memory! The snake was a painted clay model my brother made, very realistic, to scale (no pun!) and correct coloring. Snakes and gorillas were two of his scientific interests as a child.
When I was a child and taking piano lessons I had the benefit of perfect pitch and a "good ear". I would ask my teacher to play a new song she had given me and then although I had the music from learn it basically by ear. With Bach I couldn't do that. It was too complicated. For that reason I really like Bach because of the challenge. When I learned one of his pieces I had REALLY learned it!
Isabel, I too took piano lessons, and can appreciate what you say about Bach being exceptional. It's wonderful that (perhaps today?) you could play one of his pieces. How beautiful!
Sadly, I have not practiced regularly and my finger dexterity has suffered very markedly.
I haven't been near a piano since 1994! Sorry to hear about your dexterity.
Thanks for the sympathy, but I have no one to blame except myself!
Wow. Very CLEVER art work. Great map. I do like Bach. Sometimes listen to him while cooking. Didnt know his history. (Or some of yours) Thanks
"Cooking with Bach" seems like a wonderfully inspirational cookbook. What fun, thank you, Cindy!