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Paul Hindemith

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description Paul Hindemith Overview

Paul Hindemith (1895-1963) was a German composer, violist, and conductor. He served as concertmaster of the Frankfurt Opera Orchestra and later taught composition at the Berlin Hochschule für Musik from 1927 to 1937. His works include the opera "Mathis der Maler" (1938) and its related symphony, inspired by the Renaissance painter Matthias Grünewald, and "The Four Temperaments" for piano and strings. He developed a personal harmonic system detailed in his treatise "The Craft of Musical Composition" (1937).

After fleeing Nazi Germany in 1938, he settled in the United States and taught at Yale University until 1953.

help Paul Hindemith FAQ

Why did Hindemith write Mathis der Maler?

Hindemith built the work around painter Matthias Grünewald and the conflict between artistic duty and political turmoil during the German Peasants' War. He first presented the material in the 1934 symphony Mathis der Maler and also developed it into an opera.

What does Hindemith mean by Gebrauchsmusik?

The term refers to music conceived for practical use by particular performers or communities, rather than only for elite concert display. Hindemith's teaching pieces and works for amateurs became closely associated with this idea during the 1920s.

Why did Hindemith leave Nazi Germany?

His modernist music, professional relationships, and marriage to Gertrud Rottenberg, who had Jewish ancestry, placed him under growing pressure from the Nazi regime. He eventually emigrated to the United States and joined the faculty of Yale University.

Was Hindemith primarily a composer or a violist?

He was both a major composer and a professional-level violist who performed in ensembles including the Amar Quartet. His intimate knowledge of the instrument produced important viola works such as Der Schwanendreher and several sonatas.