Work of the Week - Paul Hindemith: Im Kampf mit dem Berge

At the transart2009 festival in Bolzano, Italy and the Festival Klangspuren in Schwaz, Austria; the International Ensemble Modern Academy conducted by Franck Ollu will be performing Paul Hindemith’s film score Im Kampf mit dem Berge alongside Arnold Fanck’s alpine epic of the same name which it was composed for. Performances will take place on 11th September in Bolzano and on 13th September at Klangspuren, Schwaz.

Hindemith was staying at Franck’s mansion in Friburg after the producer geologist had returned from documenting his ascent of the Lyskamm summit in the Alps. Franck was cutting the film and after seeing the images, Hindmith enthusiastically offered to compose a score to go with the film. Hindemith wrote the score in 1921 and thus created one of the first original compositions to accompany a German silent film. With the use of a stopwatch he matched his music to the drama whist he tried out his sketches on a piano next to the projections.

At first the film ran successfully in German cinemas without Hindemith’s music, mainly because many conductors thought that the music was too difficult. Eventually the film and score were purchased by Universal Film AG and a debut performance was arranged.

The version that will be performed by the International Ensemble Modern Academy has been prepared by film music specialist Lothar Prox, he states that "The flow of the music was maintained so that the freshness and energy of Hindemith’s score stands in good stead for the weakened film [Franck’s film suffered numerous cuts since the original] and still communicates a valid impression of the complete artwork of the director and the musician."

Schott's film music repertoire is vast, from music to accompany classic silent films composed by Paul Dessau, Richard Strauss and Enjott Schneider, to original soundtracks by important contemporary composers, such as Hans Werner Henze, Toru Takemitsu, Krzysztof Penderecki and Bernd Alois Zimmermann. Internationally celebrated 'grand masters' of film music such as Nino Rota, Howard Shore are also in the Schott catalogue along with new signing Klaus Doldinger.

• Paul Hindemith - Profile
  
• Film Music in Concert - Download Catalogue and Browse Repertoire
• Festival transart2009
• Klangspuren Schwaz