Hi Jerry and everybody else,

I'm sure you're right, Jerry, they would frown on electric kazoos in classical music. We certainly did not have electric kazoos.

But anybody who had written "Concerto for Bagpipe and Balloons", "The 1712 Overture" (with Pop Goes the Weasel as the main theme--interpersed with lots of classical melodies), and Concerto for 2 Unfriendly Groups of Instruments" wouldn't really be that concerned with what "they" frown on. And those are all pieces by PDQ Bach. He don't care what critics don't allow....

And that's one of the many aspects which makes him so great.

I plan to go to another of his concerts--this one called the "Jekyll and Hyde Tour"--where I understand he does things like rock versions of Shakespeare. And may make use of instruments like the tromboon--which has been described as combining the worst aspects of both the bassoon and the trombone.

Can't wait.

Anyway, our concert was just the most musical fun I've had in years.   Our piece was called "The Seasonings" and our part was to come in after lines like "Open, Sesame Seed, and see what you see"--with Blatt, Blatt, Blatt (preferably on the right notes). In most other parts of the piece we were drowned out by such instruments as the above tromboon, or a shower hose with a mouthpiece (played dazzlingly well by the woman who played it--she played it just like a 17th or 18th century valveless horn. Just incredible--all up and down the scale just by changing the configuration of her mouth. PDQ's own chosen instrument was the "Windbreaker". It was loud.

The rest of the "oratorio" was just great too--lines like "Bide thy thyme--If you've got the money, honey, I've got the thyme--If you've got the thyme, I've got the inclination". And "To curry favor, favor curry".

And then there was "By the leeks of Babylon   Ee-i--ee-e--o.

And when PDQ came hear my group (Choral Arts Society) rehearse, he asked us what we usually wore for concerts.    We said, tuxedos for guys, blue dresses for gals. He asked if we never wore robes. No , we said. He suggested we should for this one----bathrobes.

So...60 Choral Arts members trooped on stage at the Kennedy Center Concert Hall wearing bathrobes. One guy was brushing his teeth.

As a soloist I had to wear a tuxedo. Ah well.

And then there was the concerto PDQ played. Last movement very fast. Then afterwards, he turned to the audience, and said "Now we're going to play the last movement again--even faster. He started to do so.

Soon we heard a siren going off--off stage. Then a flashing red light. Then a "policeman" strode purposefully across the stage-- around the piano. Asked "Is this yours? Answer: "No, it's a rental" Asked for registration and license--which PDQ produced from inside the piano. Then to the National Symphony conductor (Leonard Slatkin) "Do you know him?" (meaning PDQ). Answer: "I'm just a passenger". And so on.

Priceless.

It is so great to be involved in many different types of music--you never know what you might get into--as I'm sure you know.