Paul Hindemith

Overview - Recordings - Scores - Books - Links

Born: November 16, 1895, Hanau, Germany
Died: December 28, 1963, Frankfurt am Main, Germany

Paul Hindemith's 1951 Symphony in B Flat for Concert Band is one of the first by a major composer in the 20th century. This contrapuntal wonderment is a cornerstone of the band literature, with many recordings to choose from. Reynish and Corporon both do a fine job with the work (I've not heard the Reynolds or the live Hindemith recordings). Reynish's interpretation is particularly nicely phrased. Reynish takes the first movement faster than Corporon; in the second movement it's reversed. My preference goes to Reynish but it's a matter of personal taste--you can't go wrong either way.

The Konzertmusik of 1926 has been relatively neglected, but these recordings indicate that is starting to change. Another contrapuntal delight, the humor of early Hindemith shines through this piece. Hunsberger and Eastman give it a wonderful performance.

Recordings

Works	Performers	Reviews	Stores
Symphony in B Flat	Royal Northern College of Music Wind Orchestra Timothy Reynish	North	Tower Amazon
Symphony in B Flat	Cincinnati Wind Symphony Eugene Corporon	North	Tower Amazon
Symphony in B Flat	University of Michigan Symphony Band H. Robert Reynolds		Tower Amazon
Symphony in B Flat	Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra Paul Hindemith	Wiser	Tower Amazon
Konzertmusik, Op. 41	Eastman Wind Ensemble Donald Hunsberger	Gerber	Tower Amazon
Konzertmusik, Op. 41	North Texas Wind Symphony Eugene Corporon	Ellis	Tower Amazon
Konzertmusik, Op. 41	Furman Civic Wind Ensemble John C. Carmichael		Tower

Scores

Symphony in B Flat for Concert Band

Books

Hindemith, Hartmann and Henze by Guy Rickards
Selected Letters of Paul Hindemith edited by Geoffrey Skelton
Paul Hindemith in the United States by Luther Noss
The Craft of Musical Composition by Paul Hindemith: