Paul Hindemith Program Notes and Bio

Paul Hindemith (November 16, 1895 – December 28, 1963) was a German composer, violist, and teacher. He was one of the most important composers of the 20th century, and his music is known for its technical virtuosity, its use of folk music, and its social commentary.

Hindemith was born in Hanau, Germany, to a middle-class family. He began studying the violin at a young age, and he later studied composition with Bernhard Sekles at the Hoch Conservatory in Frankfurt. In 1915, he was drafted into the German army, but he was discharged after a year due to health problems.

After the war, Hindemith began to establish himself as a composer. He wrote a number of important works in the early 1920s, including the Kammermusik No. 1 for five instruments (1922), the Violin Concerto (1923), and the opera Mathis der Maler (1930).

In 1933, Hindemith left Germany for the United States. He taught at the Juilliard School in New York City, and he also toured extensively as a violist. In 1940, he became a naturalized citizen of the United States.

Hindemith returned to Europe in 1953, and he settled in Switzerland. He continued to compose and teach until his death in 1963.

Hindemith's music is vast and varied. He wrote in a wide range of genres, including operas, symphonies, concertos, chamber music, and solo works. His music is known for its technical virtuosity, its use of folk music, and its social commentary. Hindemith was a major figure in the development of 20th-century music, and his work continues to be performed and studied today.