...Does Hindemith = Dissonance?

[Guest]

...Hindemith was many things-a Pacifist, a clever Craftsman as Composer
a Chromaticist, a great Performer in his own right, a Master of various Musical styles- an underrated & misunderstood Composer. IMV he used
chromaticism & dissonance to achieve dramatic effect- but also simple,
Folk-like Melody...Have a listen to this Romantic & Lyrical Viola Sonata-
It will change your view of Hindemith-FOR EVER! www.fredjamesc.com

[Auferstehen2]

Freddie,

Greetings from Malta!

I cannot specifically answer your question, as I'm afraid to say I know zilch (that's zero) of Hindemith's music, preferring (if you recall my contributions to the BBC messageboards) mainstream stuff, particularly Beethoven.

I must however comment on your website, which you kindly gave us a link to, above.

Freddie, I didn't know, and perhaps in hindsight should have offered you more respect for your opinions (your typography still drives me mad though!). If that was you singing Schubert and playing the Hindemith viola, my congratulations on both counts, meaningless praise I know from a listener like me rather than a performer, but nevertheless well-meant I assure you.

Keep well, and continue with your contributions. There, and I haven't even mentioned THAT beard!

Best wishes,

Mario

[Freddie Campbell]

...So what do you do over in Malta,Mario?

[Martin]

What's wrong with dissonance?

It's bit like having a curry, I always think. Some won't try it at all. Some love it in small doses. Some like it hot. If you can embrace a range of dissonance, your sound world is much greater and the flavours/timbres are endless.

Good stuff, Hindemith.

Beautifully played, Mr C.

[Simon]

What's wrong with dissonance?

It depends of the dissonance, doesn't it. really?

If it's so intense and so continuous with no resolution as to set your teeth on edge, then for me (and indeed for most) it's not pleasant. If it's written cleverly, as I have to say I've found much of the work of Hindemith is - at least that small amount that I've heard, anyway - then I couldn't agree with you more as regards the expansion of one's sound world.

bws S-S!

[Chris Newman]

Fred,
Was Hindemith's dissonance ever funnier than this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kok-dZbOqUg

Or many other pieces? Glorious. Hoffnung should have included it in his concerts.

[Freddie Campbell]

...Very Funny,Chris-although I would guess Wagner might take himself too seriously to get it!
And Martin- Thanks for that. Actually a furthur offering on this site is two of H's Five Pieces
for Strings...Very intense,serious(slightly dissonant at times)but exciting & worth a listen-
(London String Ensemble) www.fredjamesc.com

[Auferstehen2]

...So what do you do over in Malta,Mario?

Retired here Freddy, as my English wife preferred it to anywhere else. But I really must stop hijacking your thread now.

Mario

[Freddie Campbell]

...Good to hear from you anyhow,Mario! MORE CONTRIBUTIONS,PLEASE!

[rubbernecker]

...Hindemith was many things-a Pacifist, a clever Craftsman as Composer
a Chromaticist, a great Performer in his own right, a Master of various Musical styles- an underrated & misunderstood Composer. IMV he used
chromaticism & dissonance to achieve dramatic effect- but also simple,
Folk-like Melody...Have a listen to this Romantic & Lyrical Viola Sonata-
It will change your view of Hindemith-FOR EVER! www.fredjamesc.com

There was a Hindemith thread on the old boards to which I remember contributing. My particular favourites among his work are the Mathis der Maler symphony, particularly the introduction where there are the most felicitous Vaughan-Williamsy turns in the strings as it builds, the Symphonia Serena, The Requiem 'When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloomed' and the first organ sonata.

This from Wikipedia: One traditional aspect of classical music that Hindemith retains is the idea of dissonance resolving to consonance. Much of Hindemith's music begins in consonant territory, progresses rather smoothly into dissonance, and resolves at the end in full, consonant chords. This is especially apparent in his "Concert Music for Strings and Brass".

[Don Petter]

There was a Hindemith thread on the old boards to which I remember contributing. My particular favourites among his work are the Mathis der Maler symphony, particularly the introduction where there are the most felicitous Vaughan-Williamsy turns in the strings as it builds, the Symphonia Serena, The Requiem 'When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloomed' and the first organ sonata.

rn,

To your favourites I would add mine of the Four Temperaments and the Second String Quartet (Op.10), but not the Metamorphoses on Themes of Weber, which I can't stand, even though it is often put forward as a good introduction for newcomers to Hindemith. If it does that job, I'm all for it, but I just find it doesn't hold up to repeat listening.

[There seems to be a modern trend to call this work Metamorphosis, but I've always know it in the plural, which seems more sense, since it has four movements and several themes are transformed. The Gramophone archive seems to support me. Can anyone confirm?]

[Panjandrum]

rn,

To your favourites I would add mine of the Four Temperaments and the Second String Quartet (Op.10), but not the Metamorphoses on Themes of Weber, which I can't stand

Funny isn't it? One man's meat is another man's poison. Personally, I find the Symphonic Metamorphoses Hindemith's most inspired creation; and the rest of his output a rather dour take on mid 20th century neo-classicism.

[Freddie Campbell]

...I believe there is a verse in Psalms which says (in essence)"Even the great darkness praiseth Thee oh Lord"- IE darkness(by inversion)should suggest light; So Dissonance should,
(by fair argument)should(by inversion)suggest Harmony...
Perhaps this was where Hindemith was coming from?

[verismissimo]

I thought everone knew, Freddie:

Mozart=Dissonance :)

[Freddie Campbell]

...And somehow I feel Hindemith's is not that much furthur on from Mozart's!