Professor T. Halberd
10 years ago
Whispers from the Unknowable: The Riddlesbrood Themesong
It was on a dark, rain-slicked evening as I walked alone down Haddon Avenue in Collingswood, NJ, that I first heard it. A melody—warbling and spectral—drifted through the mist like an incantation spoken in hushed, forbidden tongues. The sound seemed to coil around me, pressing against my very skin. I stopped dead in my tracks, then noticed that i had stepped into some dog crap! Yet, this was no ordinary song. This was something else. Something wrong. I am Professor T. Halberd of Extempory College—scholar of ancient linguistics and breeder of naked mole-rats—a man well-versed in the hidden mechanisms of influence and manipulation. And yet, as I stood there, without an umbrella, alone beneath the yellowish salt lamps, I felt powerless against the uncanny force carried by that cursed melody. It was not just music; it was a summons. A whisper slithering into the subconscious, reshaping thought, drawing the unsuspecting toward some unseen threshold. And I knew at once—knew with an awful certainty—that this was the work of them. The cult of Riddlesbrood!
I know—it may seem as though I am exaggerating, indulging in needless drama-- but they LOVE drama! I assure you, it is true! My research has since confirmed what my instincts espied that night. The melody I heard was inspired by the legendary tales and sagas of the enigmatic Clyde P. Riddlesbrood—a figure whose very name carries the weight of strange omens. I have uncovered cryptic lyrics that appear to describe some bizarre religion—one in which the manufacture of alternative realities is not merely a metaphor, but a ritual! A reverse Plato’s Cave conjured into existence! Whatever that means!
And yet, despite my warnings—despite the fear that still grips me—I must acknowledge that there are those who seek such things. I have uncovered more information in my research on this topic, and I shall reveal what I have found… but be warned: once you read further, there may be no turning back!!!
About the Artist
The theme song that you have heard in many of our shows, video’s and other media was custom created by musical composer Charles Jason Bechtold just for us, inspired from the legendary tales and sagas of Clyde P Riddlesbrood. He is also credited with creating some of the more bizarre and sometimes spooky interludes and sound effects for our performances. It is whispered in hushed tones that the cast oft congregates in a ghastly formation, assuming the macabre shape of a hamburger, with their eldritch symbol at its center. As the moon casts its eerie glow, they unleash a cacophonous howl, a chilling dirge that seems to synchronize with the very fabric of madness itself.
Charles "Jason" Bechtold, has been established in many genres of music including film music, choral, classical, and rock/pop/hip-hop. He currently has twenty-two choral pieces published with Really Good Music, Llc. (www.reallygoodmusic.com), a country song published with J.W. One Publishing, and has a great interest and involvement with film/tv music. Mr. Bechtold is currently the Manager of Choral Activities at Temple University’s Boyer College of Music and Department of Dance, where he received his B.S. in Music degree studying most aspects of music composition, theory, conducting, and music administration. Mr. Bechtold's compositions consist mostly of secular choral songs that sore with beautiful, memorable melodic lines and display a grand sense of emotional character. He has had successful performances of many of his pieces along with being commissioned at times. Mr. Bechtold's compositions consist of memorable melodies and a unique style of harmony. He has had successful performances of many of his pieces along with being commissioned at times.
The Riddlesbrood Theme was also adapted for one of our main stage shows. You can hear that version of the song below:
Music by Jason Bechtold and Lori Reed
Arrangement by Lori Reed and Kathleen Gaunt
Brooding lyrics by Ryan Long and Benjamin P Johnson
English lyrics by Lori Reed
Listen if you must. But be warned: once the melody finds you, it never truly leaves.
