Peter Schickele, composer and cheerful father of PDQ Bach, dies at the age of 88

He earned his fifth Grammy, for best classical crossover album, for “Hornsmoke,” which includes his serious compositions “Horse Opera for Brass Quintet,” Piano Concerto No. 2 and other pieces.

Mr. Schickele's classic recordings also include Quartet No. 1, “American Dreams,” by the Audubon Quartet; “Schickele on a Lark,” by the Lark Quartet; and “The American Chamber Ensemble plays Peter Schickele.”

He wrote the score for the 1972 science fiction film 'Silent Running', starring Bruce Dern. With Robert Dennis and Stanley Walden he also contributed songs to the Broadway revue “Oh! Calcutta!”

Mr. Schickele and his wife, who survives him, divide their time between homes on Manhattan's Upper West Side and in Bearsville. In addition to her and their daughter Karla, he is survived by a son, Matthew, and two grandsons.

In the early 1990s, Mr. Schickele, tired of the road and also, somewhat, of PDQ Bach, took a long sabbatical, concentrating on his new radio program 'Schickele Mix'. It was nationally syndicated for about 15 years and engaged him in serious discussions about music, combined with playing works by composers as diverse as Chopin, Gershwin and Philip Glass.

In the 21st century, when the radio show ended, Mr. Schickele revived PDQ. In 2015 he held a gala concert in honor of the 50th anniversary at the town hall.