P.D.Q. Bach's life and work

P.D.Q. Bach is born

Apr 1, 1742

"The youngest and oddest of Johann Sebastian’s 20-odd children." - Peter Schickele, 2017

P.D.Q.'s father dies

1750

At just the age of 8, P.D.Q.'s father, Johann Sebastian Bach, passes away.

P.D.Q. Gets his first gig

1755

P.D.Q. Bach accompanies Ludwig Zahnstocher's musical saw performances on the clavier. Picture is of Zahnstocher sawing with a regular, non-music saw.

P.D.Q. Bach passes away

1807

At the age of 65, P.D.Q. passes away without making much of a mark on the world.

The majority of P.D.Q. Bach's music is discovered

1965

Peter Schickele discovers the lost works of P.D.Q. Bach and shares them with the world.