Work of the Week - Paul Hindemith: Overture on “The Flying Dutchman”

Between the 16th and 18th November, the first “Hindemith Days” festival will be taking place Mainz, Germany. The small festival, which is organized by the Villa Musica and the Frankfurt Hindemith Institute, is dedicated to Paul Hindemith’s chamber music and will incorporate an exhibition on his life and work at the Villa Musica. The opening event will focus on Hindemith’s early works and coincides with Hindemith’s birthday, 16th November, in the Frankfurter Hof Event Centre. 

Musical humour is apparent in many of Hindemith’s work and he is well-know for his witty compositions. Mainz’s Weihergarten, the home of Schott Music’s historical publishing house, will be the venue for performances of some of these works in a concert on 17 November. A highlight of this will be the performance of Overture on “The Flying Dutchman” as it is Performed by a Terrible Health Resort Band at 7 am at the Village Fountain. The quirkily titled string quartet from 1925 will be performed by Members of the Ensemble Villa Musica. 
 
The piece is as multi-dimensional as it’s frivolous title, on the one hand the sub-title attacks provincial musical life, but on the other, it is a parody on Wagner interpretations and the noble string quartet genre. All “mistakes”, every rhythmic inaccuracy, the bungling, coughing and interpretatoric disappointments are all meticulously (and demandingly) composed. The result may sound like a mess but it’s intended to create a comedy element and make the audience laugh. If you’re in the area we would be delighted to welcome you Schott’s home to enjoy Hindemith’s music.


 Paul Hindemith - Profile  
 Work Information on Overture on "The Flying Dutchman"
 www.villamusica.de

Images: Paul Hindemith 1953 (top) · Schott Music Publishing House in Mainz (bottom)