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Peter Schickele
1935 - 2024
Peter Schickele
1935 - 2024
Obituary
Guest Book
BORN
1935
DIED
2024
Peter Schickele Obituary
Peter Schickele was a composer and humorist best known for his comedic musical compositions, released under his persona, P. D. Q. Bach.
We invite you to share condolences for Peter Schickele in our Guest Book.
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(Photo: M. Von Holden/FilmMagic)
16 Entries
KP
February 5, 2025
May God give you strength and comfort during these difficult times. I am so sorry for your loss. Sending my sincere condolences to his family and friends. He will be greatly missed.
Rip Diringer
April 11, 2024
Thank you for all the laughs.
Sandra Nicht
January 26, 2024
I don't remember how I came to know and love PDQ Bach but I got the book (first edition), kinda wore out the binding, and passed it on as a gift to my talented nephew (a pianist and composer) who loves this special music as much as I do. It takes a special talent to make seriously funny music and that "real" musicians worked so hard to make it come alive made it even funnier. Peter Schickele is now an immortal, he and his work will live forever!
FRED GARRISON
January 25, 2024
I never met Professor Pete personally, but through his P.D.Q. Bach albums on the Vanguard and Telarc labels plus listening to SCHICKELE MIX on my local public radio station every week, I came to consider him almost part of my family. It was a must to listen to him. I learned a lot about music and now know what to listen for when Pete dissected a particular work. His appearance with ITZHAK PEARLMAN and his description of the DEAD "C" SCROLL is a classic. There will never be another Peter Schickele.
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Mr JR.
January 22, 2024
My condolences.
Nancy L. Schoen
January 21, 2024
My brother introduced me to Peter and PDQ Bach when I was a tween in the 1970s. Decades later, my parents even bought me a T-shirt from Hoople, the home of the University of Southern North Dakota at Hoople.
As a professional musician, I have always had a great deal of respect with what Professor Schickele did with PDQ's music. What a genius.
And now what a loss to classical music and comedy. RIP
Sue Benson
January 20, 2024
Sorry to hear of the passing of Peter. May our Heavenly Father give you peace and comfort during this time of mourning.
David Mancuso
January 20, 2024
so sad to lose this great musical treasure. I have been a fan for many years enjoying his wonderful imagination and use of humor in music.
L. Finch
January 20, 2024
I grew up in a home without music. I did not discover classical music until college in the 80's. Peter Schickele's PDQ Bach works were a great introduction to the style because of the subtle use of humor. (Okay: It wasn't always so subtle.) I went on to discover other composers who I grew to enjoy and went on to introduce to my children. But it all started with Peter Schickele. Seeing him perform in person was pure joy!
M Davis
January 19, 2024
Thank you Peter for so much happiness over the years. Always remembered
John Moses
January 19, 2024
I was with Peter when he first started our orchestra in NYC. We had a great friendship for over 30 years. He always made us laugh, and was charming as a conductor and person. May his memory be a blessing RIP.
Monica Jakuc Leverett
January 19, 2024
From 1964-66, I was a graduate assistant teacher for the Literature and Materials of Music courses (L&M) at Juilliard. Teachers and grad assistants all shared one large room as an office. Peter Schickele was one of the teachers, and I'll never forget him running into the office one morning shouting, "Did you know that (some Mahler theme) and (something like Row Row Row your boat) go together? Let's sing them!" And others would join in singing, having a rollicking good time. Sorry I can't remember the specific tunes of that day.
I remember the PDQ Bach concerts of the 60s at Juilliard, and seeing him and hearing him over the years. Like many other classical musicians, I have played PDQ Bach's music as part of classical music lecture recitals.
Schickele was also a skilled composer of serious, accessible contemporary classical music, and well deserves to be heard.
Peter Schickele gave the gift of joy and laughter to all of us (both professionals and the general public) who love classical music, as he opened up that music to even more people. He punctured pretensions, and reminded us that music, and life, can be fun.
Monica Jakuc Leverett
Elsie Irwin Sweeney Professor Emerita of Music
Smith College, Northampton, MA
John Wharton
January 19, 2024
I first heard of Peter Schickele not through his popular alter ego but with a serious composition, his score for the classic sci-fi film "Silent Running". That score absolutely made the film come alive, most notably the "Tending To Huey" scene that could have been silly but became poignant through the music; it still sticks with me. Later, of course, I enjoyed Mr. Schickele´s work as P.D.Q., on recordings and in person, where my music-degreed wife pointed out that his stuff was really, really hard to play. Thanks for ALL the memories Mr. Schickele.
Michael Bharier
January 19, 2024
Rest in peace. Your musical parodies have brought pleasure to large numbers of us. I saw you perform live several times. And who can forget "My Bonny lass"?
Scott Colby
January 18, 2024
A giant has passed, leaving us all the poorer in these times when we have never been more in need of both humor and an appreciation for fine arts, such as the music of Prof. Peter Schickele and P.D.Q. Bach. In the 1970s, I was fortunate enough to attend a concert performance by Mr. Schickele and his talented colleagues, during which we were regaled with several P.D.Q. Bach masterworks, including "Hansel & Gretel & Ted & Alice" and "The O.K. Chorale from 'The Toot Suite' for Four-Handed Calliope." Brilliant stuff. Although I never met him, he had a profound impact on me as a gifted parodist, composer, musician, and general humorist. "Wild Bill Hickock Rides Again." We were fortunate to have him among us.
Prof Paulo Maximo
January 18, 2024
RIP, professor Schickele. Your parodies will mever be forgotten.
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