TITLE: Geschwindmarsch by Beethoven (1946)

• From the Symphonia Serena, Second Movement

COMPOSER: Paul Hindemith (1895-1963)

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

Paul Hindemith is one of the most important composers of the 20th century. He has written opera, symphonic form, instrumental concert music, choral music, organ music and chamber music of all descriptions. He was one of three major composers who developed their own tonal system during the 20th century, the other two being Arnold Schoenberg and Igor Stravinsky. With tradional style as his springboard, he developed a tonal system using conventional tonality but expanding the use of the scale and broadening harmonic practice. His music is strongly contrapuntal and rhythmically aligned to the practices of the Renaissance.

Hindemith's sonatas, for various solo instruments and piano, are one of the most widely studied and played of any 20th century composer. His music specifically written for school use, is widely used in Europe and in America. He has also written a good deal of "useful" (Gebrauchsmusik), which is not intended for concert performance but for enjoyable playing and singing by amateurs and professionals. His textbooks, for the study of harmony and composition, are excellent resources for young composers. Having been a renowned soloist on the violin and viola, his entire outlook on composition was from the perception of the performer and their relationship to the audience. As a result, his works are both enjoyable to hear and challenging to perform.

MOVEMENTS: One

PERFORMANCE TIME: 4' 00"

INSTRUMENTATION: 25 Instruments

• 1 Piccolo, 2 Flutes, 2 Oboes, 1 English Horn, 2 Clarinets, 1 Bass Clarinet, 2 Bassoons, 1 Contra Bassoon, 4 Horns, 2 Trumpets, 2 Trombones, 1 Tuba, 1 Celesta, 2 Percussion, 1 Timpani

EDITIONS: Available for Purchase

• Schott Music Corp. - New York

COMPOSITION SKETCH AND MUSICAL CONSIDERATIONS

The Beethoven march, upon which this paraphrase is based, is originally in F major. It was composed in honor of Archduke Anton Viktor Joseph in 1809. Beethoven later designated it for the Bohemian Militia and still later for the York Army Corps. The first publication of the score was in the Collection of Marches for Complete Turkish Music for the Prussian Army that was created in 1819. In this series, it was in the volume called "Twelve Geschwindmarsche", hence the derivation of the title used by Hindemith.

Hindemith has assigned the original music phrase by phrase to an ensemble of the horns, trombones, and tuba interrupted by free rolling passages in the woodwinds. The trio finds the original music in the woodwinds, less the flutes, which are given additional decorative passages as contrast. The march is the second movement of Symphonia Serena, written for the Dallas Symphony Orchestra by Paul Hindemith in 1946.

SELECTED RECORDINGS:

RELATED WEBSITES:

Hindemith Biography - http://www.hnh.com/composer/hindemit.htm

Hindemith Essay - http://www.music.gla.ac.uk/~tfowler/essays/Hindemith

Hindemith Repertoire - http://www.classical.net/music/comp.lst/hindmith.html