Paul Hindemith

[BBMmk2]

That wasn't the case with me. In my teens I took at once to a couple of the organ sonatas, then the Mathis der Maler symphony. When it came to the Symphonic Metamorphoses - a friend of mine had the Szell recording - I quickly became quite obsessed, unable for some time to do without a daily fix. But I don't now know anyone who is a Hindemith fan: not even my wife, who likes a good deal of 20th century music.

Fallen oiut of favour or misunderstood?

[amateur51]

Well , some really great responses, many thanks to all those who have taken the time to contribute so far.

Lots to investigate, and there seems to be a sort of consensus that Hindemith is undervalued these days.

I have started having a listen to some of the suggestions. One upside of modern life is the ability to listen to some of these works instantly.

I agree teams

Would a Hindemith enthusiast care to create a listening list for we newly enthused please?

[makropulos]

I agree teams

Would a Hindemith enthusiast care to create a listening list for we newly enthused please?

Sure. That's what I started to do in Post No. 5:

Mathis der Maler Symphony (Luminous scoring, memorable ideas)
Trauermusik (written for George V's funeral; a piece for viola and strings that I find deeply moving)
Symphonic Metamorophosis [n.b. singular] on Themes by Weber (fun)
Nobilissima Visione (a ballet score about St Francis of Assisi)
Konzertmusik Op. 50
Piano Sonata No. 3
Organ Sonata No. 3
Cello Concerto

To these I might add:
Harmonie der Welt Symphony
Horn Concerto
Organ Sonata No. 1
Organ Concerto (a very late work with some terrific music in it)
The "Kammermusik" series (Abbado's EMI set is on Spotify)
Some of the chamber music, especially the String Quartets, and the Octet

Happy Listening!

[amateur51]

Sure. That's what I started to do in Post No. 5:

Mathis der Maler Symphony (Luminous scoring, memorable ideas)
Trauermusik (written for George V's funeral; a piece for viola and strings that I find deeply moving)
Symphonic Metamorophosis [n.b. singular] on Themes by Weber (fun)
Nobilissima Visione (a ballet score about St Francis of Assisi)
Konzertmusik Op. 50
Piano Sonata No. 3
Organ Sonata No. 3
Cello Concerto

To these I might add:
Harmonie der Welt Symphony
Horn Concerto
Organ Sonata No. 1
Organ Concerto (a very late work with some terrific music in it)
The "Kammermusik" series (Abbado's EMI set is on Spotify)
Some of the chamber music, especially the String Quartets, and the Octet

Happy Listening!

Many thanks indeed, makropulos

How could I resist 'a ballet score about St Francis of Assisi'?

[Don Petter]

I would add 'The Four Temperaments', a ballet score for strings and piano, which has some beautiful, as well as mesmerising, passages.

[Stanfordian]

Many thanks indeed, makropulos

How could I resist 'a ballet score about St Francis of Assisi'?

I would also add the Hindemith Concerto for Orchestra, Op. 38 and also the Philharmonic Concerto (Variations for Orchestra) (1932).

[aeolium]

And what about Der Schwanendreher, the viola concerto with a "small" orchestra?

I particularly like Mathis der Maler and Nobilissima Visione.

[richardfinegold]

Hmmmm.... I've tried over the years.

My starting point was the March from his "Symphonic Metamorphoses on Themes by Carl Maria von Weber" - cracking performance from Blomstedt/San Francisco SO, one of my favourite orchestral showpiece numbers....

But in my case, that's where it's stayed. I've not been able to get into anything else - he's just one of those composers whose turns of phrase by and large say nothing to me

Best 'starter kit' for orchestral music probably this: inc the above performance

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hindemith-Orchestral-Works-Paul/dp/B0000C6IW2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1366554279&sr=8-1&keywords=hindemith+blomstedt

[makropulos]

Best 'starter kit' for orchestral music probably this:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hindemith-Orchestral-Works-Paul/dp/B0000C6IW2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1366554279&sr=8-1&keywords=hindemith+blomstedt

Yes - that's good (and a bargain). I'd suggest this one too:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mathis-Mahler-Philadelphia-Sawallisch-Hindemith/dp/B000002RUM/ref=sr_1_2?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1366626605&sr=1-2&keywords=hindemith+sawallisch

One piece I don't think has been mentioned yet - the Violin Concerto, which Oistrakh recorded with Hindemith for Decca:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/David-Oistrakh-CONCERTANTE-KONDRASHIN-HORENSTEIN/dp/B00AI445ZE/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1366626793&sr=8-10&keywords=oistrakh+hindemith

[makropulos]

A short P.S. for anyone with a bit more time - the whole "Mathis der Maler" opera is on Spotify, in the wonderful Kubelik/Fischer-Dieskau recording (available again from EMI - at last). Maybe that's something for those who are already Hindemith fans - all I can say is that it's a set I listen with great pleasure.

[Parry1912]

Has anybody mentioned the Violin Concerto? A wonderful work that should be better known.

[gurnemanz]

Still getting to know him after many years of listening to music. As others have said, it's a poor show that the BBC couldn't do something about his much quoted "neglected" status and actually acknowledge the 50th anniversary of his death at the Proms. I heard the Symphony in E flat for the first time a few weeks ago via the Bernstein Symphony Box. An important work in a very good recording and I have only just come to appreciate the Piano Sonatas and the Marienleben Lieder in this good-value new Glenn Gould compilation from last year.

Some bold lunchtime programming comming up at one our local Arts Centres down here in Wilts - Hindemith solo Cello. I'm sure I shall give it a go.

[Suffolkcoastal]

Has anybody mentioned the Violin Concerto? A wonderful work that should be better known.

Yes I did earlier in the thread when listing my favourite Hindemith scores, it was championed by Oistrakh and Stern who both recorded it, should be a standard repertoire piece IMO.

[teamsaint]

Will be interesting if people come back with thoughts on new Hindemith music they have discovered.
So far, I have particularly enjoyed the Viola Sonata and the String Quartets, having sampled 1, 2, and 6.

Lots to go back to, and lots still to try.

[rauschwerk]

The 50th anniversary of Hindemith's death has come and gone, and been virtually ignored by the BBC. They couldn't even be bothered to dig out and repeat the CotW from 2011. Pathetic. The advocacy of Yan Pascal Tortelier (lots of good recordings with the BBC Phil in the 1990s) and others has been, it seems, in vain.