A Guided Tour of Paul Hindemith's Ludus Tonalis (1942) Video 1 of 2

[@JoeGHendel]

You talk about music so nicely. I love playing this piece. It sits next to my Well Tempered Clavier on my piano on regular rotation.

[@darinavila7612]

Thank you so much for these! Please keep making them!

[@henryng0725]

Finally get to watch this video David!!! I really love your detailed explanation here! I agree that retrograde could not bring cohesion in the postlude, especially with different rhythm. Inversion will be more relatable just like the mirror fugues in Bach’s The Art of Fugue. I look forward to watching part 2 now! Henry

[@mikesimpson3207]

I understand your reservations about the postludium, I do think it works better forwards than it does backwards overall. However, that high, hesitant return of the passacaglia is one of my favorite moments in Hindemith. There's something eternal about that passage in both versions.

[@vivalaleta]

Fascinating. Thank you.

[@David_Goza]

You're welcome!

[@jpanisse3950]

Thank you so much for this wonderful guided tour. Is it too far-fetched to think that he wrote the Postludium, or at least some of it, before the Praeludium? Some things seem to sound "less" upside down to me. Anyways, thank you again for sharing!

[@David_Goza]

I just re-listened to the piece about an hour ago, and one of your observations - that some things seem to sound "less" upside down than others - occurred to me as well. I heard a kind of coherent loveliness in the aria that really hadn't hit me before; and as Mike (below) indicated, that chaconne theme returning high in the musical stratosphere does have a timeless quality to it. Glad you enjoyed it!

[@jpanisse3950]

@@David_Goza I almost feel compelled to turn the entire score upside down and see what can be found. To me it seems as if Hindemith wanted us to really take the "Ludus" part seriously and is sending us off on an exploration trip with the Postludium. It sounds like "Hey, here's an idea. Go try it!". One can only wonder of course, but I think it's an interesting speculation to entertain.