The Seasonings [CF:411-41054S]

The Seasonings is, as far as is known, the only oratorio written by P.D.Q. Bach, and we must thank God for small favors. The oratorio was written during the last of the composer’s three creative periods—Contrition—when he gave up many, though not all, of the extravagance of the Soused Period, and the characteristically incompetent characteristics of the Initial Plunge. The work was first published in Liverpool by Jonathan “Boozy” Hawkes, who has been of one P.D.Q.’s many drinking companions. Since the original manuscript has never been found, and since the first published edition was already in English, with no credit given for the liberetto, we can only speculate about the authorship of the text; or, of course, we can simply not think about it at all.