Search - P.D.Q. [pseudonym of Peter Schickele] Bach, Robert Bernhardt, New York Pick-Up Ensemble :: P.D.Q. Bach: Black Forest Bluegrass

An oddity in the P.D.Q. canon

H. F. Gibbard | Dark City, USA | 10/31/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

""Black Forest Bluegrass" is a very unusual P.D.Q. Bach recording, because it is mostly sung in German. Peter Schickele exploits this to the fullest, with a series of hilarious cross-language puns, mis-translations, and absurdities. But you only get the jokes by referring to the English language libretto. I thought he could have done more with the weird admixture of bluegrass and classical. But I will never forget "Du Bist Im Land" that begins with three twanging banjo notes, followed by a famous passage stolen from J.S. Bach!"

Funny -- but misunderstood

Harold T. Thomas | Ohio | 01/22/2003

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Be warned! This album is not for everyone. For one to appreciate this album to its fullest, one needs to be versed in both German and English, be able to shift between them with ease, appreciate bluegrass music, appreciate late 18th/early 19th Century music, and be able to honestly laugh at all of the above. Since I fit this description, I feel well qualified to comment here.Schickele's voice is raw, and unmelodic, but so are many early American folk singers at the most fundamental level. And this lends some measure of humor to the entire musical adventure on this album. The translations from German to English (as written) don't do the cantata the justice it deserves as the linguistic jokes and turns-of-phrase easily fly over a non-German/English-speaker's head -- and the heads of some academically trained listeners, too. It might take a second listen for the gags to fully be understood. For any other follower of PDQ Bach, the musical gags and word plays here may seem flat and lacking, especially given some of the other offerings on the market. If you're intending to laugh uproariously, and you don't understand German, you will find this album a huge disappointment. It's just not that type of album. That said, even the English "advertising" madrigal included on the album is merely cute -- not guffaw inducing -- as is the fully instrumental No-No Nonette (which might put you to sleep, despite the strange toy sounds). A mediocre offering for most. For the very small niche for which this album must have been intended, this album offers a few good laughs."

Say what?

Kryton | Dodge City, KS USA | 04/21/2001

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I am slowly increasing my P.D.Q. Bach collection and just received Black Forest Bluegrass two days ago. As noted in a previous comment, a significant portion of this album of P.D.Q.'s work is sung in German. Perhaps the original 33 1/3 rpm album had a lyrics translation section in the jacket, but I have found the disc version, at least the one I received, does not have such a feature. I do not speak German, and as such, have no idea what is and what is not funny.The blend of bluegrass and "classical" certainly is the highlight of this work of P.D.Q., but not knowing what the lyrics are, certainly hurts the overall listening experience."