Paul Hindemith

Paul Hindemith (16 November 1895 – 28 December 1963) was a German composer, violist, violinist, teacher and conductor. Notable compositions include his song cycle Das Marienleben (1923) and opera Mathis der Maler (1938). Hindemith's most popular work, both on record and in the concert hall, is probably the Symphonic Metamorphosis of Themes by Carl Maria von Weber, written in 1943.

Life and career

Born in Hanau, near Frankfurt am Main, Hindemith was taught the violin as a child. He entered Frankfurt's Hoch’sche Konservatorium, where he studied violin with Adolf Rebner, as well as conducting and composition with Arnold Mendelssohn and Bernhard Sekles. At first he supported himself by playing in dance bands and musical-comedy groups. He became deputy leader of the Frankfurt Opera Orchestra in 1914, and was promoted to leader in 1917. He played second violin in the Rebner String Quartet from 1914.

Hindemith was conscripted into the German army in September, 1917 and sent to join his regiment in Alsace in January, 1918. There he was assigned to play bass drum in the regiment band, and also formed a string quartet. In May 1918 he was deployed to the front in Flanders, where he served as a sentry; his diary shows him "surviving grenade attacks only by good luck," according to New Grove Dictionary. After the armistice he returned to Frankfurt and the Rebner Quartet.

Podcasts:

Paul Hindemith

ALBUMS

BBC Legends: Jochum

Released 2006

Toros Can Piano (feat. piano: Toros Can)

Released 2001

Mathis der Mahler (Chor und Symphonie-Orchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks feat. conductor: Rafael Kubelik)

Released 1995

Complete Orchestral Works

Released 1993

Das Klavierwerk, Volume 1 (feat. piano: Siegried Mauser)

Released 1990

Born: 1895-11-16

Died: 1963-12-28

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