Johann Sebastian Bach: Heritage and Obligation

by Paul Hindemith

A speech delivered on September 12, 1950 at the Bach commemoration of the city of Hamburg, Germany.

Genres: Music

44 pages, Hardcover

First published June 28, 1978

About the author

German composer, violist, violinist, teacher and conductor. In the 1920s, he became a major advocate of the Neue Sachlichkeit (new objectivity) style of music.
Notable compositions include his song cycle Das Marienleben (1923), Der Schwanendreher for viola and orchestra (1935), and opera Mathis der Maler (1938). Hindemith's most popular work, both on record and in the concert hall, is likely the Symphonic Metamorphosis of Themes by Carl Maria von Weber, written in 1943.

Reviews

[David Heredia García · Rating 5 out of 5]

Una lectura obligada para acercarse a la figura del viejo Bach desde una perspectiva más humana, de manos del genial músico, compositor y pedagogo que es Paul Hindemith. Y no menos interesante el genial prólogo de Luís Gago que nos contextualiza el discurso que pronunció Hindemith en 1950 en una conferencia en el marco del Bachfest (en Hamburgo) y de cuya transcripción nace este libro.

[Al Maki · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lecture delivered by Paul Hindemith on the 200th anniversary of Bach's death. Hindemith gives his ideas on the heritage that Bach left and the obligation it places on us. Unfortunately for me it draws on the frame of reference of German Idealism and reading German Idealism I don't know what the referents for the words are. I imagine a blind person reading about synesthesia would be in the position I am. I have a high opinion of Hindemith , so I guess it's my loss.