Peter Schickele, whose comedic parodies of classical music overshadowed his own strengths as a serious composer, died Tuesday at his home in Bearsville, N.Y. at 88. His daughter confirmed the death and attributed it to a series of infections that damaged his health.
Schickele won the Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album four years in a row from 1990-1994. He also won in 2000 for Best Classical Crossover album.
The composer aimed at breaking down the stuffiness of classical music in the grand tradition of Victor Borge, His compositions included the No-No Nonette, the cantata Iphigenia in Brooklyn, the Unbegun Symphony, and Pervertimento for Bagpipes, Bicycle and Balloons, among other titles.
Schickele claimed to be the discoverer of 18th-century composer P.D.Q. Bach, the son of Johann Sebastian Bach, “the last and by far the least” of his 20 children. Schickele claimed to have made several unusual discoveries of P.D.Q. Bach works,...
Schickele won the Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album four years in a row from 1990-1994. He also won in 2000 for Best Classical Crossover album.
The composer aimed at breaking down the stuffiness of classical music in the grand tradition of Victor Borge, His compositions included the No-No Nonette, the cantata Iphigenia in Brooklyn, the Unbegun Symphony, and Pervertimento for Bagpipes, Bicycle and Balloons, among other titles.
Schickele claimed to be the discoverer of 18th-century composer P.D.Q. Bach, the son of Johann Sebastian Bach, “the last and by far the least” of his 20 children. Schickele claimed to have made several unusual discoveries of P.D.Q. Bach works,...
- 1/18/2024
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
Stars: Danielle Donahue, Jeff Kirkendall, Bob Dennis, James Carolus, Steve Diasparra, Ken Van Sant, Todd Carpenter, Austin Dragovich, Laurie Smith, Frank Humes, Houston Baker | Written by John Oak Dalton | Directed by Mark Polonia
I’m not going to lie, the oeuvre of the Polonia Brothers is somewhat of an acquired taste. Always low budget, often made with recurring cast and crew, very much what you’d call Diy filmmaking – right down to using familiar stock music and stock video footage (tell me you don’t recognise this films blood-drip filled opening credits? I’ve seen it offered as a design from tons of “video editors” on Fiverr). You have been warned… But for those familiar with the Polonia’s work, Jurassic Prey is more of the same cheesy fun that you’ve come to expect!
Jurassic Prey, originally released on Full Moon’s streaming service under the title of Meateaters,...
I’m not going to lie, the oeuvre of the Polonia Brothers is somewhat of an acquired taste. Always low budget, often made with recurring cast and crew, very much what you’d call Diy filmmaking – right down to using familiar stock music and stock video footage (tell me you don’t recognise this films blood-drip filled opening credits? I’ve seen it offered as a design from tons of “video editors” on Fiverr). You have been warned… But for those familiar with the Polonia’s work, Jurassic Prey is more of the same cheesy fun that you’ve come to expect!
Jurassic Prey, originally released on Full Moon’s streaming service under the title of Meateaters,...
- 4/28/2017
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
Halloweenight, the latest creation from Polonia Brothers Entertainment, marks the first movie done by the company without the help of John Polonia, the twin brother and other half of Pbe who passed away suddenly in February of 2008. Based on a story and a concept for a feature film John had written years earlier, Mark Polonia takes on the job of bringing his late brother’s old story to life with the help of a cast of old Polonia Bros. movie regulars (like Todd Carpenter, Cindy Wheeler, Bob Dennis, Dave Fife, Ken VanSant, etc.) and with the monster and gore making prestige of make-up effects artist Brett Piper (Screaming Dead, Bacterium, etc.).
- 12/31/2009
- by Mario Dominick
- HorrorYearbook
Longtime indie fright filmmaker Mark Polonia is self-distributing Halloweenight, the latest Polonia Bros. Entertainment production, on DVD beginning today under the Cinegraphic Productions banner. It’s the first feature he has made since the untimely death of his brother/moviemaking partner John in February 2008, and is also the final movie of their frequent collaborator Mark Satterly.
Written and directed by Mark from John’s story, Halloweenight is about a put-upon college student who constructs a living scarecrow that he uses to take revenge on his enemies during an All Hallow’s party. “Halloweenight is the culmination of many talented people putting forth their best efforts to make this film as good as can possibly be,” Mark says. “It was produced, first and foremost, to honor the memory of John Polonia, who tragically passed away as preproduction began. Sadly, after the movie was finished, the producer, Matt Satterly, also passed away.
Written and directed by Mark from John’s story, Halloweenight is about a put-upon college student who constructs a living scarecrow that he uses to take revenge on his enemies during an All Hallow’s party. “Halloweenight is the culmination of many talented people putting forth their best efforts to make this film as good as can possibly be,” Mark says. “It was produced, first and foremost, to honor the memory of John Polonia, who tragically passed away as preproduction began. Sadly, after the movie was finished, the producer, Matt Satterly, also passed away.
- 10/9/2009
- by no-reply@fangoria.com (Michael Gingold)
- Fangoria
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