Hindemith 'Mathis' Poll

[The new erato]

The Naxos Hindemith disc arrived last Friday and I had the time to listen to it yesterday. I think this was the first time I heard music by this composer. It was funny (actually sad) to read Hindemith called an atonal noisemaker (  ) by the nazis.

Having Hitler storm out in a rage during a perfomance of Neues von Tage, when a naked lady in a bathtub sings assorted headlines from a newspaper, perhaps wasn't a good move. But I love the story. Fine opera, too. My Hindemith collection currently stands at 45 CDs and a handful of LPs.

[snyprrr]

The Naxos Hindemith disc arrived last Friday and I had the time to listen to it yesterday. I think this was the first time I heard music by this composer. It was funny (actually sad) to read Hindemith called an atonal noisemaker (  ) by the nazis. I liked the music (at times it reminded even Heitor Villa-Lobos) but I need more listening to get into Hindemith's art better.

Try Nobilissima Visione again.

btw- this Thread was started because of the first two minutes of 'Mathis'. What did you think of this (most wonderful) introduction? Could you feel the swelling?...uh... of the music, of course!!

[71 dB]

My Hindemith collection currently stands at 45 CDs and a handful of LPs.

That's about half of my Elgar collection. 

Try Nobilissima Visione again.

Of course! Did you think I'd buy this CD to listen to it only once?

btw- this Thread was started because of the first two minutes of 'Mathis'. What did you think of this (most wonderful) introduction? Could you feel the swelling?...uh... of the music, of course!!

A very good introduction indeed! 

[snyprrr]

Of course! Did you think I'd buy this CD to listen to it only once?

What do you think Nobilissima Visione sounds like? The first time I heard it was on an old library LP, maybe Hindemith conducting; but the music was so moving, and the LP cracks and pops added a 'silent movie' drama,... I always think of some great drama taking place at some old Spanish castle (magic, haha), it's such 'Joan of Arc' music, or something, very uplifting for me.

[71 dB]

What do you think Nobilissima Visione sounds like? The first time I heard it was on an old library LP, maybe Hindemith conducting; but the music was so moving, and the LP cracks and pops added a 'silent movie' drama,... I always think of some great drama taking place at some old Spanish castle (magic, haha), it's such 'Joan of Arc' music, or something, very uplifting for me.

It surely sounds moving, at least parts of it. Since I am a NEWbie with Hindemith, I can't analyze the music that well yet but I like all the works on the disc pretty much.

The recording quality of the Naxos disc is not perhaps perfect (with loudspeakers) but on my second listening (this time with phones) I noticed that the recording works pretty well with my Sennheiser HD-598.

[snyprrr]

It surely sounds moving, at least parts of it. Since I am a NEWbie with Hindemith, I can't analyze the music that well yet but I like all the works on the disc pretty much.

The recording quality of the Naxos disc is not perhaps perfect (with loudspeakers) but on my second listening (this time with phones) I noticed that the recording works pretty well with my Sennheiser HD-598.

Does it also have the 'Weber' thing? This is a piece I've never liked. I may have to really listen again...

[Sergeant Rock]

Does it also have the 'Weber' thing? This is a piece I've never liked. I may have to really listen again...

Shame, shame. You really should listen again, and absorb. How can you not love the glorious racket at the end of the Turandot Scherzo! And the Andantino is sooo gorgeous.

By the way, my Schmidt-Isserstedt arrived a few days ago. You're right, it's one of the great ones (especially the Angels). Lenny still kicks ass in the last movement though but S-I doesn't go down without a fight 

Sarge

[snyprrr]

Shame, shame. You really should listen again, and absorb. How can you not love the glorious racket at the end of the Turandot Scherzo! And the Andantino is sooo gorgeous.

By the way, my Schmidt-Isserstedt arrived a few days ago. You're right, it's one of the great ones (especially the Angels). Lenny still kicks ass in the last movement though but S-I doesn't go down without a fight 

Sarge

Ah!, wonderful. I'm so glad (for my sake, haha!!) Some say it is better to be happy than right,... but, I'm happy when I AM right, haha!!

I will bring all 'Weber's I have with me soon for a corral.



I couldn't get a date for new years, but Sarge said I was right!

well, ok, not quite as cool, but still ...

[snyprrr]

Shame, shame. You really should listen again, and absorb. How can you not love the glorious racket at the end of the Turandot Scherzo! And the Andantino is sooo gorgeous.

By the way, my Schmidt-Isserstedt arrived a few days ago. You're right, it's one of the great ones (especially the Angels). Lenny still kicks ass in the last movement though but S-I doesn't go down without a fight 

Sarge

I just listened to the Symphonic Metamorphoses (?; 1943)) on the way back. Frankly, you're right, the best part of the whole thing is the second half of the Scherzo, with all those mechanical and ticking sounds. The rest of the movements sound like a lot of Nazi parodying, I mean, a little bombastic in the Shosty way, no,... a little? I just don't particularly like the melodic line of this kind of German humor; it does remind me of the accusations of 'manufacturing' that were levied against PH,... I mean, it's obviously a very well put together 'suite' (what do you call this?)...

What's funny, now that you have the Schmidt-Isserstedt, did you read what Herr S-I said about our Paul?:

"Hindemith's strongest epoch is for me, the period from Mathis, through the Sym. Dances and Schwanendreher to Nobilissima Visione, that is, works from the time before he went to America. His compositions of the last ten years no longer move me in the same measure" (1949)p.11 of booklet

How ya like them apples? haha... so, I guess 'Weber' is out of the question, haha!?!

Well, here,... tell me what you think of Herr S-I's alternate for 'Weber', the Symphonic Dances. Doesn't this almost sound just like Nobilissima Visione? If you take S-I's whole program (w/ N.I), it truly is all the pieces (besides 4 Temps.) that have that same...nnnnnnnnnnnn... sound, ya know what I mean Verne? They all have that Heroic bah-bah! in that poignant melodic curve that Hindemith mined so beautifully during that period (also, the Violin Sonata in E (1935; my most most favorite quick Hindemith)).

So, if I had to, I'd definitely pick the Symph. Dances over 'Weber',... but, I might put 'Weber' on a disc with Neues vom Tage, Amor & Psyche,... maybe some other, much quirkier Hindemith. (oops on the italics, yikes!)

But, you're right, I did need to hear the Turandot through (I was wondering at first,... but THEN!, the music does get much better)!

[Sergeant Rock]

I just listened to the Symphonic Metamorphoses (?; 1943)) on the way back. Frankly, you're right, the best part of the whole thing is the second half of the Scherzo, with all those mechanical and ticking sounds. The rest of the movements sound like a lot of Nazi parodying, I mean, a little bombastic in the Shosty way, no,... a little?

No, I don't hear it that way. Despite the Weber themes, the bombast (which I love, by the way ) sounds like a thoroughly American kind of bombast to me ("big band exuberance and blues flavors"). Maybe it's Schmidt-Isserstedt who's a little suspect here. Hindemith abandoned Germany during the Nazi period. S-I stayed. And he's the one who says the post-German works don't move him. Hmmm.... 

Anyway, thanks for making the effort. I'm glad you've come to like at least a part of it. I think there is good reason the Metamorphoses is Hindemith's most popular work.

Sarge

[Sergeant Rock]

"Hindemith's strongest epoch is for me, the period from Mathis, through the Sym. Dances and Schwanendreher to Nobilissima Visione, that is,
Well, here,... tell me what you think of Herr S-I's alternate for 'Weber', the Symphonic Dances. Doesn't this almost sound just like Nobilissima Visione?

I was thinking the same thing when I heard it (for the first time actually). And I was shocked. It wasn't what I was expecting at all. These are dances? I think Hindy wouldn't know a dance if it was clogging right in front of him   But, yeah, the work makes a perfect partner on this CD. Definitely sounds like Hindemith.

Sarge

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

What's funny, now that you have the Schmidt-Isserstedt, did you read what Herr S-I said about our Paul?:

"Hindemith's strongest epoch is for me, the period from Mathis, through the Sym. Dances and Schwanendreher to Nobilissima Visione, that is, works from the time before he went to America. His compositions of the last ten years no longer move me in the same measure" (1949)p.11 of booklet

How ya like them apples?

I can't agree with Herr S-I. Not only does he leave out the "Weber thing," he also leaves out the Symphony in Eb, which is probably my favorite Hindy composition of all.