German composer Paul Hindemith: biography, life, creativity and interesting facts

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:47

Paul Hindemith deservedly bears the title of one of the most gifted and talented German musicians. He brilliantly played several musical instruments, conducted, composed chamber and symphonic music, wrote many choral compositions and worked on an opera. In Germany, he became an innovator, because he believed that music should not only be a melody composed of notes with talent, but also a kind of accumulator, which, after listening, can turn into a kind of moral force.

German avant-garde artist known throughout the music world

In the first half of the twentieth century, Paul Hindemith (whose brief biography will be discussed in our article) was considered an avant-garde artist. He completely abandoned the dodecaphony that was fashionable at that time in the musical world.

His music was unlike anything previously written. The odious Goebbels recognized him as one of the most significant authors in Germany, but this recognition did not prevent relations between Paul Hindemith and the Nazi elite from spoiling. The most talented musician and composer was forced to leave his native country. In exile, he wrote many works on musical aesthetics, which are still actively used by modern musicians and musicologists in their work and education. The musical works written by him, banned by the Nazis, are today credited to the category of modern classics. Further in our article, the biography, work of Paul Hindemith and the features of the works written by him will be considered.

Brief information about the place of birth, parents and family of the musician

Paul Hindemith, whose works are known throughout the world, was born near Frankfurt, in the small town of Hanau on the Main. The head of the family was an ordinary German craftsman - Karl Hindemith. At first glance, it may seem strange from whom the boy could inherit incredible talent and impeccable ear for music. But it is known that his father, Karl Hindemith, being a simple painter, was very fond of playing the cintra and was a fairly good amateur musician. Most likely, it was he who instilled in his son a love for art in general, including music.

Musical talent and future genius training

The boy's talent showed up quite early. From childhood, he studied and studied percussion instruments, piano, violin and viola with interest.

He received his musical education in Frankfurt am Main, joining the conservatory. There Paul studied violin and conducted compositions.

The death of his father at the front and military servicePaul himself

In 1915, Karl - Paul's father - dies on the battlefield. Germany is involved in the First World War, and the financial situation of many German families leaves much to be desired. The family of the composer and musician was no exception. Mother Maria was left a widow with three children, and Paul was looking for a job with decent pay in order to somehow help her. During this period, he was lucky enough to receive an offer to work as an accompanist at the Frankfurt Opera. The conductor of the orchestra there was Ludwig Rottenberg. Interesting is the fact that Paul Hindemith later married his daughter.

As an accompanist at the opera house, he managed to work until 1917. Next comes the call to the army. There, this talented young man, of course, did not stop his creative activity. He was accepted into the military band as a drummer, and also becomes a member of the string quartet. In 1918, he played the role of the first violin in this quartet. After completing military service, Paul returns to the Frankfurt Opera, where he works as an accompanist until 1923.

Coming to the Likko Amara Quartet

In the early 20s in the German music community, Paul Hindemith was already known as a talented composer, violinist and violist. Working at the Frankfurt Opera, he performed not only the work of an accompanist. At the same time, the musician played the role of the second violin in A. Rebner's band.

After returning from the army, Hindemith decided to play viola in this team.

Over time, musicalPaul considered the preferences of his mentor Rebner too conservative. Therefore, he changed the team and began to work as part of another quartet - under the guidance of the famous violinist Likko Amar. This team lasted until 1929 and, no doubt, was a huge success not only at home, but also far beyond its borders.

Playing the role of viola in it, Paul had the opportunity to tour a lot and see a large number of European countries.

The rapid development of a successful career

Paul Hindemith is a composer whose compositions were first heard by the general public in 1922, in the city of Salzburg, during World Music Days. The success of the compositions written by him was obvious, although it caused a lot of discussion. In 1923 he was appointed organizer of the Modern Music Festival, which was held in a town called Donaueschingen. Paul remained true to his preferences for innovative trends in music, and actively promoted the works of avant-garde composers at this festival. He performed the viola repertoire during concerts himself.

In 1927, Hindemith was offered a position as a teacher of composition at the Berlin Higher School of Music, and he accepted it. The next few years were very successful for his career. In addition to teaching, Paul is actively pursuing a solo career and touring as a violist. His concerts are a resounding success in the United States, he performs in many countries, including Egypt and Turkey.

Symbol of the difficult relationship between the Nazi regime andcreative people in Germany

In the 1930s, the Nazi Party came to power, with which the musician and composer had a difficult relationship. One of the reasons is Paul's wife, Gertrud Rotenberg, with whom he entered into an official marriage in 1924. The fact that, according to religious canons, she was not considered Jewish, did not matter much to the Nazis.

The musician's father-in-law Ludwig Rotenberg was Jewish, and that was enough. Like many creative people, Paul Hindemith (whose biography we are considering) considered himself a completely apolitical person. He openly communicated with his Jewish colleagues, composers and musicians, making no exceptions on national grounds. Of course, the Nazi Party did not like this, but in the early 30s, communication with Jews was not enough to ban the musician's work. That is why claims to this very creativity gradually began to appear.

The attitude of the Nazis to the works of Paul was changeable and ambiguous. At first he was even praised. In 1934, Goebbels himself calls Hindemith one of the most significant and talented German composers of our time. For some time, Paul was even under the kind of protection of the Nazis. Some representatives of the German authorities really liked his works. Also, the international reputation of this composer and musician played a big role, which did not allow the Nazis to get rid of him.

Hindemith's position was really difficult, and in order tosecurity, he showed the authorities his willingness to compromise. In a short time, Paul begins to show his German affiliation and worldview in new compositions. In his new compositions, he pays a lot of attention to German folklore, writes instrumental works in a peculiar harmonious and clear manner (characteristic of German marches). For some time he lived relatively calmly in the country, but friendship with Jews and Hindemith's opinion that a person of art should be completely free and independent could not please the ideologists of the Third Reich.

Open confrontation with German authorities

Paul Hindemith, whose musical works are admired in many countries, falls into open disfavor in his homeland. The apogee of the unspoken conflict takes place in 1934. Goering officially bans Hindemith's upcoming opera, The Painter Mathis. In one of his speeches, J. Goebels calls the composer "an atonal noisemaker, a noise maker." Nazi critics call his works "degenerate art". Under strong moral pressure, Hindemith stops his work at the Berlin School, taking an indefinite leave of absence.

Departure to Turkey and return "to the service" of Hitler

During this difficult period, Paul receives an offer from Mustafa Atatürk, a Turkish politician and reformer, to visit Ankara and help develop a plan to reorganize music education in Turkey. The Hindemites agree to the proposal and temporarily leave Germany. PaulHe did an excellent job with the task set for him, thereby making a huge contribution to the creation of a universal music education program, which began to be used in all Turkish music schools. He made a lot of efforts to open the first music conservatory in Ankara. Despite the fact that the composer and musician was highly respected in Turkey, unlike many emigrants who fled Germany at that time, he and his wife soon decided to return home.

After returning, Paul again has to make many compromises with the German authorities. In 1936, he swears allegiance to Hitler. The composer composes the legendary Luftwaffe anthem, his works filled with "German" motifs begin to be performed in concert halls throughout Germany. But this "peace" with the Nazis did not last long. In Germany, an open struggle begins against modernist musical trends. The Germans call them "degenerate". Paul's works (except for a few) fall under this definition and, in the end, their performance in Germany is subject to a final ban.

In addition, anti-Jewish measures are being stepped up in the country. Hindemith begins to seriously fear for the safety of his wife, who is periodically threatened with physical violence. Realizing that his work has no place in Germany, the composer, violist and violinist Hindemith Paul makes the final decision to leave this country.

Departure from Germany and return to the post-war period

In 1938, Paul moved to Switzerland, and after 2emigrated with his wife to the United States. In America, he is invited to lecture at such prestigious universities as Yale and Harvard. Despite the fact that Hindemith could be accused of past attempts to collaborate with the Nazis, in America his works were performed and were a resounding success. He was called an exception in the world of German music of that era, as it was free from Nazi influence.

It was during his stay in America that the peak of his creative career fell. In 1946, he received US citizenship, but a few years later, in 1953, he moved to Zurich. There he lectures at a local university and conducts orchestras performing his work.

This brilliant man said goodbye to his life after all in his homeland, in Germany. He returned to Frankfurt, where he died in 1963 from an attack of pancreatitis.

Hindemith's priceless musical legacy

Paul Hindemith was a recognized authoritative musical theorist, musician, teacher, conductor.

This man left behind a huge number of works in various musical genres, wrote a huge number of works for orchestra, composed chamber music for various instruments, works for ballet, choir and, of course, for opera.

Operas are a significant part of the life and work of Paul Hindemith

A huge part of the legacy that Paul left to his descendants are operas. Critics and musicologiststhey believe that it is in them that the worldview of the composer and musician, the understanding and reflection of contemporary reality and the moral and ethical positions that the author followed are clearly expressed. It was in the opera genre that Paul Hindemith worked until the last days of his life. The German composer wrote music for many successful and world-famous operas, including:

• "Artist Mathis".
• "Harmony of the World".
• Nush-Nushi.
• "The killer is the hope of women."
• Cardillac.
• "News of the Day".
• "The Long Christmas Dinner"
• "Saint Susanna".