Sinead

i am currently studying the Himermeith sonat movement 1 for school and don't really know how to play it or anything like that...
if anyone has any ideas or info i could use would be much appreciated

thanks

rowuk

The Hindemith Sonata comes from a series of Sonatas that he wrote for orchestral instruments. This means a german orchestral approach is probably closest to what he intended. A big, dark sound is a pretty good bet. The german trumpets of that time had a crown on the bell. That let you play relatively loud without "distortion" in the sound. That means you should play the dynamics as written but never get into "distortion".
The first marking is "mit Kraft" that means powerfully. The old school germans took great pride in rhythmic accuracy and precise articulation. They often criticised the american trumpet players obsession with sound and the generally softer tonguing. I studied with someone from that generation and we worked very, very hard on articulation.
Remember this work was written in 1938 or 1939. He was under intense pressure from the Nazis right before this and had emigrated to Switzerland in 1938. 1940 he finally ended up emigrating to the US (his wife was jewish). He always considered himself a representative for german music. That is why I think the german approach to this piece (precision being most important!) makes the most sense.
I have heard many renditions of this piece, most of them sound too "rounded" to me. I can't think of one contempory commercial recording that does this piece justice (oh, will I take a beating for that statement here at TM). That doesn't mean that that those performances are "garbage". It means that I have the impression that the "soul" of this piece does not lay in a massive float on a cloud sound that is popular today, rather more like a swiss watch - intricate, perfect, extreme attention to detail with great contrast!
Especially the first couple of notes shouldn't sound like: lah---, lah-,lah---, lal,lah,lah-,lah-,lah-............. rather a decisive TAH---, TAH-,TAH---....... Mit Kraft also applies to the attack!

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Manny Laureano

Not from me. I've heard many recordings of good players playing the piece but none that satisfies me. But then, Robin, upon reflecting, it's an incredibly personal piece, isn't it? I can't imagine anyone else playing it in a way that would satisfy me yet that is probably true for anyone who really knows the piece (and I don't mean just technically).

It truly is unlike any other piece in the repertoire in that regard. The more you get to know it, the less other people's versions make it happen for you.

ML

Johntpt

Supossedly Hindemith could play the solo parts to all of the Sonatas he wrote, so it's too bad we don't have a recording of Hindemith himself playing this piece! There are recordings of Hindemith conducting his music with the Philharmonia in 1956, including the Konzertmusik for Brass and Strings and the Symphony in Bb for Concert Band, plus of course the DVD of Hindemith conducting the CSO in the Konzertmusik. These should give you a good idea of an appropriate sound and style for playing Hindemith.

I think Manny is right - perhaps due to the personal nature of the piece I, too, have yet to hear a recording that is 100% satisfying, although I do enjoy listening to Thomas Stevens, Tony Plog, and sometimes even Ed Tarr.

Listen to some recordings, learn as much about the piece and about Hindemith as you can, and combine all of that information with your own emotion and life experiences to come up with an interpretation that is informed and fresh at the same time.

JU

HoboTrumpet

Sinead,

This might be a bit off topic from what you originally asked, but Summit Brass has a recording out there (I think it's "Hindemith: Complete Brass Works") with all of his brass stuff on it. The CD cover is yellow with a bunch of gears on it. A lot of great music on those two discs! You could probably find it on Amazon.com, or I think Summit Records has a store on their site too. If you find that you like his trumpet sonata, the rest is definitely worth a listen.

Cheers,

Andy

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Tom Mac

First let me say I have not heard this recording. Considering, however, the criteria (which I fully agree with) described by Robin, and the artists concerned this may be a great performance. The artists were Glenn Gould (perhaps best known for his Bach, especially the Goldberg Variations but also a champion of 20th century works) and Gil Johnson, principle Trpt for the Philadelphia Symphony under Ormandy. I have seen this in a box set but it may be available as a single CD. As a matter of fact I may just buy it myself.

T. Mac

Hags888

I have a bit of shocking info to add to this Hindemith thread. I was working on my written prelims last fall and I asked the theory professor here at UMN (Michael Cherlin....Yale...well respected Schoenberg scholar) if I could analyze the Hindemith Sonate. His reply, "I've never cared for that piece...I think the combination of trumpet and piano is rather 'dumb' (dumb in the academic sense, not the slang sense)." So...yeah. I ended up doing the Lutoslawski Mini Overture for brass quintet instead. But, I was so surprised by his reaction!

I've always thought of the Hindemith Sonate as one of the best solo trumpet works of the 20th century...if not THE best. But what do I know...I'm just a lowly trumpet player...

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Jimi Michiel

Scott-

You know what I think is 'dumb'? Academics who think their opinions count because they've got a couple of nice looking diplomas hanging on the wall.

-Jimi

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Hags888

LOL...it's amazing how an opinion backed with an academic degree is somehow valued more over an opinion backed with a performance degree...cause...what do real musicians know about music anyway?

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Vulgano Brother

A tres cool piece, the Hindemith, and for this Vulgano, even prophetic. The following pictures come to mind.

1st mvmt. Early Nazis: marching, building roads, growing the economy, making the streets safe. A couple of unsettling moments -- first this little fanfare (what, war?) and then later, the minor thirds of emergency vehicles, air-raid sirens and what not.

2nd mvmt. Naiveté, faked or real. Cabaret, everything's "fine." A movement lacking "substance." A parody of French salon music for cornet.

3rd mvmt. Trauermusik. (grief music) Wow! Grief, anger, exhaustion and hollow resignation all mixed together at once. Extreme dynamics, better stated perhaps as EXTREME DYNAMICS. If it distorts, fine -- it should. Lots of sighs. Time should stand still. Read the beginning of C.S. Lewis' A Grief Observed for some good insights.

4th mvmt. Alle menschen mussen sterben. Does this mean "all men must die" or "all mankind must die?" Check the lyrics. Is the trumpet painting or protesting the text?

Add question marks to all my statements, because the Hindemith is so personal. This is the stuff I hear in my head, and try to convey.

And, yeah, if we just play the notes it is a stupid piece.

viel Spass!

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