The Short-Tempered Clavier and other dysfunctional works for keyboard

The Short-Tempered Clavier and other dysfunctional works for keyboard
Studio album by P. D. Q. Bach
Released	1995
Recorded	February 22, 1995 – May 30, 1995
Genre	Classical Comedy
Length	71:56
Label	Telarc
P. D. Q. Bach chronology
Two Pianos Are Better Than One (1994) The Short-Tempered Clavier and other dysfunctional works for keyboard (1995) The Dreaded P. D. Q. Bach Collection (1996)

The Short-Tempered Clavier and other dysfunctional works for keyboard was released in 1995 by Telarc Records. The album contains works by Peter Schickele, sometimes under his pseudonym of P. D. Q. Bach, including "works for various types of keyboards, including theatre organ, calliope, the ever popular piano, and the organ of the King Congregational Church of Fayray, North Dakota." The title is a parody of Johann Sebastian Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier.

Performers

• Professor Peter Schickele, steam calliope, organ
• Christopher O'Riley, famous concert pianist
• Dennis James, famous theater organist
• David Robinson, whoever he is

Track listing

1. Opening & Introduction (4:50)

   The Short-Tempered Clavier, Preludes and Fugues in all the Major and Minor Keys Except for the Really Hard Ones, S. easy as 3.14159265

2. I. C major (2:46)
3. II. C minor (1:48)
4. III. C-sharp minor (3:35)
5. IV. D major (1:32)
6. V. D minor (2:28)
7. VI. E-flat major (2:19)
8. VII. F major (4:01)
9. VIII. G minor (2:02)
10. IX. G major (2:33)
11. X. A major (3:37)
12. XI. A minor (1:39)
13. XII. B-flat major (3:13)
14. Introduction (3:16)

    Little Pickle Book for theater organ and dill piccolos, S. 6

15. I. Toccata et Fuga Obnoxia (3:52)
16. II. Chorale Prelude (Ave Maria et Agnus Dei) (1:49)
17. III. Fantasia sopra "Fräulein Maria Mack" (1:36)
18. IV. Lullaby and Goodnight (2:35)
19. Introduction (1:16)

    Sonata Da Circo (Circus Sonata) for steam calliope, S. 3 ring

20. I. Spiel Vorspiel (2:34)
21. II. Entrada Grande (3:07)
22. III. Smokski the Russian Bear (1:23)
23. IV. Toccata Ecdysiastica (1:05)
24. Calliope Frustration (0:42)
25. Introduction (1:07)

    Three Chorale-Based Piecelets for Organ, S. III

26. I. Chorale: "Orally" (2:05)
27. II. Chorale Prelude on an American Hymn for the Last Sunday Before the Fourth Day of the Seventh Month After New Year's Eve (1:24)
28. III. Chorale Variations on "In der Nacht so Hell, der Petrus ist mein Freund" (5:23)
29. Epilogue (1:24)

Technical information

• The Short-Tempered Clavier was recorded in Mechanics Hall (Worcester, Massachusetts), February 22, 1995.
• Little Pickle Book was recorded on the Mighty Wurlitzer Theater Organ in the Imperial Spud Theater, Hoople, North Dakota, April 11, 1995, with additional recording at Commercial Recording Studio, Studio 1, Cleveland, Ohio, May 1, 1995.
• Sonata Da Circo was recorded on a Morecraft Steam Calliope at the Circus Hall of Fame, Peru, Indiana, May 30, 1995.
• Three Chorale-Based Piecelets was recorded next to the feedlots at King Congregational Church, Fayray, North Dakota, May 1, 1995.

Sources

• P. D. Q. Bach: The Short-Tempered Clavier