Album insights
Paul Hindemith began his musical journey with the violin, becoming concertmaster at the Frankfurt Opera by the age of nineteen. However, he later switched to the viola after the First World War. He gained international fame as a chamber musician and soloist with this instrument between the world wars. Consequently, he composed numerous works for it, including seven sonatas for viola and piano, alongside other concertante pieces.
Between 1921 and 1927, Hindemith composed seven chamber music pieces, considering them as works of chamber music in the truest sense. One notable piece from that period is the fifth for viola and chamber orchestra, dedicated to his former teacher Arnold Mendelssohn. These chamber music works served as reactions to the post-war era's emotional exuberance from both Romanticism and Expressionism.
In his chamber music concerts, Hindemith emphasized polyphony, firm structures, and movements of baroque stability. These attributes helped define influential neoclassical impulses in German music during the post-war period. Inspired by Bach, Hindemith's chamber music could be seen as counterparts to Bach's Brandenburg Concertos. The piece showcases the viola surrounded by various wind instruments, allowing the viola to shine brightly amidst the ensemble.
Aside from his chamber music works, Hindemith began composing a series of works titled "Concert Music" from 1926, incorporating characteristics of the Baroque Concerto Grosso. Among these works is the Concert Music op. 48 for viola and large chamber orchestra, resembling the structure of Chamber Music No. 5.
In 1935, right after completing his opera "Mathis der Maler," Hindemith composed his only formally titled concert for viola and a small orchestra. This work, structured in three movements, reflects a nostalgic longing for a lost age of harmony and humanity, drawing on old German folk songs as its source material.
Hindemith's unique composition style captivated audiences and critics alike, with his innovative use of the viola's sound capabilities. His works, including "Der Schwanendreher," showcased a shift towards deeper emotional expression and lyrical depth. Furthermore, the Trauermusik for viola and string orchestra, composed under challenging circumstances, stands out as a poignant and intimate piece that transcends its original purpose, serving as a significant addition to the musical repertoire.