Kammermusik Nr. 5

Paul Hindemith

Subtitle: für Solo-Bratsche und größeres Kammerorchester

This work bears the designation op. 36/4.

General Info

Year: 1927 / 1955
Duration: c. 18:00
Difficulty: (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Schott
Cost: Score and Parts - Rental | Score Only (print) - €33.99

Movements

1. Schnelle Halbe (fast half-notes) – 4:21
2. Langsam (slow) – 7:59
3. Mäßig schnell (moderately fast) – 3:22
4. Variante eines Militärmarsches (variant of a military march) – 3:05

Instrumentation

Full Score
Solo Viola
Flute (doubling Piccolo)
Oboe
Bassoon I-II
Contrabassoon
E-flat Soprano Clarinet
B-flat Soprano Clarinet
B-flat Bass Clarinet
C Trumpet I-II
Horn in F
Trombone I-II
Tuba
String Bass (4)
Cello (4)

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

Kammermusik No. 5, Op. 36, No. 4, was composed in 1925, like a viola concerto for viola and larger chamber orchestra ("für Solo-Bratsche und größeres Kammerorchester (Bratschenkonzert)"). It is structured in four movements.

The work is regarded as one of the most difficult viola concertos. The orchestra is formed by several wind instruments, and only cellos and double basses for strings, probably to grant the viola dominance. The last movement, named "variant of a military march" is based on the Bavarian Defilers' March which the viola "brings out of step".

The concerto is dedicated to Arnold Mendelssohn ("Herrn Professor Arnold Mendelssohn gewidmet"). Mendelssohn, the son of cousin of Felix Mendelssohn, was his teacher at the Musikhochschule Frankfurt. It was premiered at the Kroll Opera House in Berlin on 3 November 1927 by the Staatskapelle Berlin, conducted by Otto Klemperer, with the composer as the viola soloist.

- Program Note by Wikipedia

Media

Audio: London Sinfonietta (Markus Stenz, conductor; Paul Silverthorne, viola)
Audio CD: North Texas Wind Symphony (Eugene Migliaro Corporon, condcutor; Susan Dubois, viola) - 2005
Audio CD: Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra (Riccardo Chailly, conductor; Kim Kashkashian, viola) - 1992

State Ratings

None discovered thus far.

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

Indiana University (Bloomington) Wind Ensemble (Stephen W. Pratt, conductor; Lan Wang, viola) – 13 February 2018
Pennsylvania State University (State College) Symphonic Wind Ensemble (Dennis Glocke, conductor; Timothy Deighton, viola) – 26 February 2013
Eastman School of Music (Rochester, N.Y.) Wind Ensemble (Mark Scatterday, conductor) – 18 April 2007

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

Hindemith, P. (1955). Kammermusik Nr. 5: für Solo-Bratsche und grösseres Kammerorchester: op. 36, no. 4 [score]. Schott: Mainz, Ger.
"Kammermusik Nr. 5 op. 36 Nr. 4." Fondation Hindemith. Web. Accessed 27 October 2022