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

Paul Hindemith (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 opera. In Germany, he became an innovator, because he believed that music should not only be a melody composed of notes, but also a kind of accumulator, which, after listening, can turn into a kind of moral force.

Famous for the whole musical world, the German avant-gardist

In the first half of the twentieth century, Paul Hindemith (whose brief biography will be considered in our article) was considered an avant-gardist. He completely abandoned the fashionable at that time in the musical world of dodecaphony. His music was not like anything previously written. The odious Goebbels recognized him as one of the most important authors of Germany, but this recognition did not prevent the relations between Paul Hindemith and the Nazi top-manager spoil. A talented musician and composer was forced to leave his native country. In exile, he wrote many works on musical aesthetics, which modern musicians and musicologists are still actively using in their work and teaching. Written by him music works, banned by the Nazis, today is credited to the category of modern classics. Further in this article, we will examine the biography, the work of Paul Hindemith and the features of the works he wrote.

Brief information about the birthplace, 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 artisan - Karl Hindemith. At first glance it may seem strange from whom the boy could inherit incredible talent and impeccable musical ear. But it is known that his father, Karl Hindemith, being a simple painter, loved to play on the zintra and was quite a good amateur musician. Most likely, that it was he who instilled in his son a love for art in general, including music.

Musical talent and learning the future of genius

The boy's talent appeared early enough. From childhood, he was interested in studying and playing the percussion instruments, the piano, the violin and the viola. He received his musical education in Frankfurt am Main, joining the Conservatory. There, Paul studied violin and studied composition.

The death of his father at the front and the service in the army of Paul himself

In 1915, Karl - the father of Paul - perishes on the battlefield. Germany participates 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 remained a widow with three children, and Paul was looking for a job with a decent pay to somehow help her. During this period, he was fortunate to receive an offer to work as an accompanist at the Frankfurt Opera. The conductor of the orchestra was Ludwig Rottenberg. Interesting is the fact that on his daughter Paul Hindemith later married.

He managed to work as a concertmaster in the opera house until 1917. Then 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, he also became a member of the string quartet. In 1918, he played the role of the first violin in this quartet. After the end of military service, Paul returns to the theater of the Frankfurt Opera, where he works as an accompanist until 1923.

Coming to the Quartet of Likko Amara

In the early 20-ies in the German music community, Paul Hindemith was already known as a talented composer, violinist and viola player. Working in Frankfurt Opera, he performed not only the work of an accompanist. In parallel, the musician played the role of the second violin in the collective of A. Rebner. After returning from the army, Hindemith decided to play in this band on the viola.

Over time, the musical preferences of his mentor Rebner Paul considered 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 collective existed until 1929 and, undoubtedly, had a huge success not only at home, but also far beyond its borders. Performing in it the role of viola, Paul had the opportunity to tour a lot and see a large number of European countries.

Rapid development of a successful career

Paul Hindemith is a composer, whose works the general public first heard in 1922, in the city of Salzburg, during the World Music Days. The success of the compositions he wrote was obvious, although he aroused much discussion. In 1923 he was appointed organizer of the Festival of Contemporary Music, which was held in a city 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. Alto repertoire during the concerts he performed himself.

In 1927, Hindemith offered the place of a composition teacher at the Berlin Higher School of Music, and he accepted it. The next few years for his career were very successful. In addition to teaching, Paul is actively engaged in solo career and touring as a viola player. His concerts have a stunning success in the US, he gives performances in many countries, among them Egypt and Turkey.

The symbol of the complex relationship between the Nazi regime and creative people in Germany

In the thirties, the Nazi party came to power, the relationship with which the musician and composer are difficult to form. One of the reasons is the wife of Paul - Gertrude Rothenberg, with whom he in 1924 entered into an official marriage. The fact that, according to religious canons, she was not considered a Jew, for Nazis was of special importance. The musician's testament Ludwig Rothenberg was Jewish, and that was enough. Like many creative people, Paul Hindemith (whose biography we are considering) considered himself completely apolitical person. He openly communicated with his Jewish colleagues, composers and musicians, without making exceptions on national grounds. Of course, the Nazi party did not like this, but in the early 1930s, communication with the Jews was not enough to ban the musician's work. That's why the claims to this very creativity began to appear gradually.

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 patronage of the Nazis. His works really liked some representatives of the German authorities. Also an important role was played by the international reputation of this composer and musician, which prevented the Nazis from getting rid of him.

The situation of Hindemith was really complicated, and for security reasons he showed the authorities their readiness to make compromises. In a short time, Paul begins to show in his new compositions his German identity and worldview. In new works he pays much attention to German folklore, writes instrumental works in a kind of harmonious and clear manner (characteristic for German marches). For some time he lives in the country relatively calmly, but the friendship with the Jews and the opinion of Hindemith that the man of art should be completely free and independent, could not please the ideologists of the Third Reich.

Open confrontation with representatives of German authorities

Paul Hindemith, whose works of music cause admiration in many countries, in his homeland falls into open disgrace. The apogee of an implicit conflict occurs in 1934. Goering officially prohibits the premiere of the opera Hindemith called "Artist Matis". In one of his speeches, J. Gebels calls the composer "an atonal noise generator, a noise producer". Nazi critics call his works "degenerative art". Under strong moral pressure, Hindemith ends his work at the Berlin School, taking a vacation indefinitely.

Departure to Turkey and the return to service of Hitler

In this difficult period, Paul receives an offer from Mustafa Ataturk, a Turkish politician and reformer, to visit Ankara and help develop a plan for the reorganization of music education in Turkey. Spouses of Hindemites agree to the offer and temporarily leave Germany. Paul perfectly coped with the task set before him, thereby making a huge contribution to the creation of a universal program of music education, which was used in all Turkish music schools. He made a lot of efforts to open the first music conservatory in Ankara. Despite the fact that in Turkey the composer and musician enjoyed great respect, unlike many emigrants who fled from Germany at that time, he and his wife soon decided to return home.

After his return, Paul again has to make many compromises with the German authorities. In 1936 he swore allegiance to Hitler. The composer composes the legendary hymn of the Luftwaffe, 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 the modernist musical trends. The Germans call them "degenerate". Paul's works (with the exception of a few) fall under this definition and, in the final analysis, a definitive ban is imposed on their execution in Germany.

In addition, anti-Jewish measures are being strengthened 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 does not belong in Germany, the composer, violist and violinist Hindemith Paul makes the final decision to leave this country.

Departure from Germany and return in the post-war period

In 1938, Paul moved to Switzerland, and two years later he emigrated 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 cooperate with the Nazis, in America his works were performed and had a stunning success. He was called the exception in the world of German music of that era, as it was free of 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 conducts lectures at the local university and conducts orchestras performing his work.

This ingenious person, still in his homeland, in Germany, said goodbye to his life. He returned to Frankfurt, where he died in 1963 from an attack of pancreatitis.

Hindemith's priceless musical heritage

Paul Hindemith was a recognized authoritative music theorist, musician, teacher, conductor. This man left behind him a huge number of works in all sorts of musical genres, wrote a huge amount of works for the orchestra, composed chamber music for various instruments, works for ballet, chorus and, of course, for opera.

Opera - a significant part of life and creativity of Paul Hindemith

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

• "Artist Matis".
• "Peace Harmony."
• "Nush-Nushi".
• "The killer is the hope of women."
• "Cardillac".
• "Daily News".
• "A long Christmas dinner."
• "Holy Susanna".