Der Schwanendreher
This work may be found under its title in English, The Swan Turner.
General Info
Year: 1935
Duration: c. 25:00
Difficulty: (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Schott
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - Rental | Score Only (print) - €16.50
Movements
1. Between Mountain and Deep Valley
2. Now Grow Leaves, Little Linden Tree, Grow Leaves
3. The Cuckoo Sat on the Fence
4. Variations: "Aren't You the Swan Turner?
Instrumentation
Full Score
Solo Viola
Flute I-II
Oboe
Bassoon I-II
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II
B-flat Trumpet
Horn in F I-II-III
Trombone
Harp
Timpani
Cello I-II-III-IV
String Bass I-II-III
Errata
None discovered thus far.
Program Notes
Paul Hindemith's Der Schwanendreher (The Swan Turner) is a concerto for viola and orchestra. Der Schwanendreher occupies a place at the core of the viola concerto repertoire, along with the concertos by Walton and Bartók. It was composed in 1935 and premiered by the composer himself at a performance in Amsterdam on 14 November 1935. Each movement is based on a separate medieval German folk song; thus, it is sometimes referred to as the "Concerto from Old Folk Songs". This composition draws its title from the final movement's folk song base, "Aren't you the swan turner?".
This orchestration is uniquely interesting due to its lack of violins and violas, which benefits the composition by making it easier for the solo viola to be heard.
The movements are Between Mountain and Deep Valley; Now Grow Leaves, Little Linden Tree, Grow Leaves; The Cuckoo Sat on the Fence; and Variations: "Aren't You the Swan Turner?"
The original context of 'swan turner' in medieval times is that of a cook's assistant who would turn the handle of a spit on which swans were roasting. However, in the context of the concerto itself (and evidenced in the text of the folk song), the meaning programmatically seems to refer to a wandering medieval minstrel, or organ grinder, who plays on an instrument such as the hurdy-gurdy (and providing embellishments and rhapsodies on the folk tunes), which has a handle shaped as a swan's neck, thus the 'swan turner' being the travelling musician himself, described by the composer in the preface notes to the work.
- Program Note from Wikipedia
Commercial Discography
- Audio CD: Berlin Philharmonic (Claudio Abado, conductor; David Shallon, viola) - 2007
State Ratings
None discovered thus far.
Performances
To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project
- University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire Wind Symphony (John R. Stewart, conductor; Jaryn Danz, viola) – 26 April 2018
- Frankfort (Germany) Radio Orchestra (Paavo Järvi, conductor; Antoine Tamestit, viola) – 14 December 2012
Works for Winds by This Composer
- Concert Music, op. 50 (tr. Duker) (1930/1978)
- Der Schwanendreher (1935)
- Geschwindmarsch by Beethoven (1946)
- Geschwindmarsch (arr. Mas Quiles) (1946/1975)
- Kammermusik Nr. 5 (1927/1955)
- Kammermusik Nr. 7 (1927/1956)
- Kleine Kammermusik (1922/1949)
- Konzertmusik fur Blasorchester, Opus 41 (1926)
- Konzertmusik für Klavier, Blechbläser und Harfen, Opus 49 (1930)
- Mathis der Maler (tr. Duker) (1934/1973)
- Morgenmusik (1932)
- Neues vom Tage Overture (arr. Rogers) (1929/)
- Nobilissima Visione (tr. Sweet) (1938/)
- Ragtime (tr. De Cinque) (1921/2016)
- Septet (1948/1949)
- Sonata (arr. Spede) (1938/2006)
- Sonata for Four Horns (1952)
- Symphonic Metamorphosis on Themes of Carl Maria von Weber (tr. Wilson) (1943/1972)
- March from "Symphonic Metamorphosis" (tr. Wilson) (1943/1972)
- Marsch from "Symphonic Metamorphosis" (tr. Ross) (1943/2012)
- Symphony in B-flat (1951)
- Symphony in E-flat (arr. Rogers) (1940/)
Resources
- Der Schwanendreher, Wikipedia Accessed 26 April 2018
- Hindemith, P. (1985). Der Schwanendreher : Concerto After Old Folksongs for Viola and Small Orchestra = Konzert nach alten Volksliedern für Viola und kleines Orchester[score]. Eulenburg: London.
- Perusal score