Paul Hindemith - Sonata for Viola and Piano in F major, Op. 11 No. 4

Paul Hindemith

Paul Hindemith aged 28

(16 November 1895 – 28 December 1963) was a prolific German composer, violist, violinist,

teacher and conductor. Notable compositions include his song cycle Das Marienleben (1923),

Der Schwanendreher for viola and orchestra (1935), and opera Mathis der Maler (1938).

Hindemith's most popular work, both on record and in the concert hall, is likely the Symphonic Metamorphosis of Themes by Carl Maria von Weber, written in 1943.

 Sonata for Viola and Piano in F major, Op. 11 No. 4  

- Performers: Kim Kaskashian (viola), Robert Levin (piano)
- Year of recording: 2000

The first Sonata for viola and piano [Sonate für Bratsche und Klavier], also known as Sonata in F major, Op. 11 No. 4, written in 1919.

The sonata is in three movements, all played without a break:
00:00 - I. Fantasie
03:10 - II. Thema (mit Variationen)
07:13 - III. Finale (mit Variationen)

This is the fourth of five instrumental sonatas comprising Hindemith's opus 11. This sonata and the following Op. 11 No. 5 for solo viola mark Hindemith's decision to abandon playing the violin in favour of its larger cousin. Hindemith himself played the viola (along with a slew of other instruments) and so it is little surprise that he could write so well for this instrument. The composition is arguably his most popular chamber composition.

- The work opens with a lovely, utterly memorable melody and the mood remains light throughout this three-minute movement.
- The second movement, which is slightly longer, is just as lyrical and appealing in its theme and variations. The composer noted the "folksong" character of the melodic material here.
- The finale, at over nine minutes, is also a theme-and-variations scheme, but with a bit more muscle.

The music is still more 'traditionally' romantic compared to the music Hindemith would compose later on in his career.