Introduction

Summary

This book is a critical study of Hindemith's music theory, through a close analysis of his music. His writing and theoretical ideas can be hard to grasp, particularly given his often hazy description of how ideas such as ‘harmonic fluctuation’ and ‘Series 1 orders’ can describe and compose music. The reader should not be deterred by Hindemith's rhetoric, however, as within his oeuvre lies one of the great practical musicians of the twentieth century. Since the time it was written, his music and music theory have encountered conflicting receptions, dividing those performers whose repertoire owes its foundations to a Hindemith sonata and those who claim that he was an unnecessary tinkerer of his compositions and whose meddling in music theory caused widespread mischief. Though this book does not refrain from offering critical perspectives on Hindemith's works, it does so with the agenda that the reader may become more acquainted with Hindemith's proto-theory and may reflect on how it may be developed and nurtured within the context of the twenty-first century.

Hindemith's Theory Publications

Hindemith finished seven theoretical and pedagogical textbooks, all but one of which are published by Schott & Co. and have enjoyed several revised editions. Following Hindemith's move from Germany to the USA during 1937, the original language of some of his texts switched to English. However, they were still translated back to German, which is testament to his popularity after the Second World War. In order of publication these include:

Unterweisung im Tonsatz: Theoretische Teil (Mainz: Schott & Co., 1st edn 1937, 2nd edn 1940) [The Craft of Musical Composition: Theoretical Part, trans. Mendel, Arthur (Mainz: Schott & Co., 1942)].

Unterweisung im Tonsatz: Übungsbuch für den zweistimmigen Satz (Mainz: Schott & Co., 1939) [The Craft of Musical Composition: Exercises in Two-Part Writing, trans. Ortmann, Otto (Mainz: Schott & Co., 1941)].

A Concentrated Course in Traditional Harmony, Vol. 1 (Mainz: Schott & Co., 1943) [Aufgaben für Harmonie-Schüler, trans. anon, probably Hindemith (Mainz: Schott & Co., 1949)].

Elementary Training for Musicians (Mainz: Schott & Co., 1946).

Harmonie-Übungen für Fortgeschrittene (Mainz: Schott & Co., 1949) [A Concentrated Course in Traditional Harmony, Vol. 2: Exercises for Advanced Students, trans. anon, probably Hindemith (Mainz: Schott & Co., 1953)].

A Composer's World: Horizons and Limitations (Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1952a) [Komponist in seiner Welt, trans. Hindemith, Paul (Mainz: Schott & Co., 1959)].