Hindemith Concerto for Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, and Harp

[rosalind-beck]

Can anyone provide information on this piece?

Here is a performance at YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sR6K060JiZo

Thanks in advance!

[MusikFind1]

HINDEMITH CONCERTO FOR FLUTE, OBOE, CLARINET, BASSOON, AND HARP [Concerto for woodwinds, harp and orchestra]

The Concerto for Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Harp, and Strings is Hindemith’s reflection upon the concerto grosso. As in Baroque examples, the soloists (concertino) and the accompanying body (ripieno) are generally cast as cooperative elements rather than as antagonists. The only exception in the present work appears in the first movement, where a cadenza, more characteristic of Classical and later concerti, appears: the soloists here unite as a single virtuosic body.

The now-American Hindemith was commissioned to write the Concerto for the fifth Festival of Contemporary American Music in 1949. As the festival was scheduled for May 9 – 15 of that year, Hindemith requested that his work be premiered on the 15th, the date of his silver wedding anniversary. Indeed, he surprised his wife, Gertrude, at the premiere by incorporating into the work quotations of the Wedding March from Mendelssohn’s music to A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Parts/Movements
1.Moderately fast
2.Grazioso
3.Rondo. Rather fast
Duration: 13′ 0” to 15’27”

Commissioned work: Written for the Alice M. Ditson Fund, Columbia University, New York
Premiere: May 15, 1949 New York, NY, McMillan Academic Theatre/Columbia University New York (USA) · Conductor: Thor Johnson · CBS Symphony Orchestra
Orchestra instrumentation: Soli: Fl. · Ob. · Klar. · Fg. – Hfe.
Orchester: 2 Hr. · 2 Trp. · Pos. – Str.
ED 4064 = Studienpartitur
ED 94 = Partitur
Orchestra Material on hire
Publisher: Schott Music
U.S. Agent EAMDLLC, NYC

[rosalind-beck]

Clinton, I continue to admire and appreciate your thorough knowledge of harp repertoire. I will pass this information on to my principal wind-player colleagues. Our first oboist is the one who brought this work to our attention. Sincere thanks as always!

[Author]

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