Paul Hindemith - Symphonic Metamorphosis (1943)

Paul Hindemith (16 November 1895 - 28 December 1963) was a prolific German composer, violist, violinist, teacher and conductor. 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.
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Symphonic Metamorphosis of Themes (1943)
1. Allegro
2. Scherzo (Turandot): Moderato - Lively
3. Andantino
4. Marsch
San Francisco Symphony Orchestra conducted by Herbert Blomstedt
The Weber themes are taken from incidental music which Weber wrote for a play by Carlo Gozzi, based on the same Turandot legend, that later inspired Giacomo Puccini and others. Hindemith and his wife would play Weber's music for piano four-hands, and Hindemith used some of these little-known pieces-Op. 60/4 (no. 253 in the Jähns catalog of Weber's works) (first movement), Op. 37 (J. 75) (second movement), Op. 10/2 (J. 82) (third movement), and Op. 60/7 (J. 265) (fourth movement) for the themes of the other movements. Weber's piano duets were written around 1802-03, 1809, and 1818-19, his Turandot music in 1809 (Tusa 2001).
The work was first performed on January 20, 1944, in New York City, with Artur Rodziński conducting the New York Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra.

[@reginaliuyx]

Turandot Scherzo Exposition Theme - 3:56 Trans - 4:45 Variation 1 - 4:54 Variation 2 - 5:18 Variation 3 - 5:40 Variation 4 - 6:02 Variation 5 - 6:25 Variation 6 - 6:48 Variation 7 - 7:10 Cadence (where variations stop) - 7:33 Transition: 7:39 Development Exposition 1 - 7:50 Episode 1 - 8:08 Exposition 2 - 8:14 Episode 2 - 8:23 Exposition 3 - 8:27 Episode 3 - 8:36 Exposition 4 - 8:45 Transition - 8:49 Exposition 5 - 8:52 Episode 5 - 9:04 Exposition 6 - 9:16 Recapitulation Recapitulation - 9:43 Coda - 10:33

[@Berlinchesmusic]

Thank you!

[@reginaliuyx]

@@Berlinchesmusic You’re very welcome! 🙆🏻‍♀️

[@ultradmann2367]

Oh my god, you just blew my mind! I had absolutely no clue that the Scherzo was a theme and variations and I've loved this movement for as long as I can remember. Pretty eye opening with the full score. Thanks!

[@pastrychef1985]

God's work. Thank you so much!

[@TorySlusher]

A criminally underrated piece....

[@jamesbrownjr.5074]

Yes, indeed!❤

[@mouthpiece200]

You're smart

[@zinkmystic88]

so real

[@johnbrabant6689]

The most fun I ever had with my pants on was playing bass clarinet on this piece.

[@jacksonquevedo5621]

😂

[@elisecurran9497]

Yes, great bass part!! I got to play the contrabass part in the band arrangement....also fun!

[@davelester1985]

The composer took up every instrument so that he could know its capabilities. The results were many instrumental sonatas and some powerful symphonic music. He deserves to be performed more!

[@JamieSmith-fz2mz]

I work as a substitute teacher, and even though I'm not a music major, i love subbing for band directors because I know how to conduct. So a BD contacted me on Friday night and sent me the music list for Monday. This was on it, so I was geeked all weekend. I love this march. I played it in college, and couldn't wait to conduct it. I leapt out of bed on Monday and charged into school. Muscled through the first three hours of Cadet Band, Beginner Band, and Symphonic Band to get to the Wind Ensemble at 1pm. I was unaware that it had been snowing like crazy all day (It's early November. Why would it snow??). So I was shocked to learn that they were sending the kids home early. I never got to conduct this damn piece. So sad, also because this band director almost NEVER takes a day off. Here it is weeks later and I'm still bummed.

[@jsaavedr1]

Yeah, hopefully it's the orchestra director getting sick and you end up subbing and hopefully has this piece in their repertoire.

[@paulbrower3297]

.The greatest fun I have ever had as a sub is conducting a band.

[@JamieSmith-fz2mz]

@@paulbrower3297 The kids walk in and take one look at you and figure they're going to have an easy goof-off day. And then you pull out the music folder and tell them to get their instruments, and they go, "Whaaaa...????"

[@Suchapill]

That sucks.

[@elisecurran9497]

SO sorry! I hope it can happen in your future. I conducted the march for an air baton contest held by a local classical radio station (yeah, that was a while back!), and it was a blast! I finally got to play the band transcription of this in Intercollegiate Band, and it was totally awesome, as you'd expect! btw, I also used to sub and the band and choral directors always requested me for the same reason as yours. My favorite was conducting Armenian Dances (Reed) and having to figure out on the fly how to do 5/8.....and the beat pattern alternates between 2+3 and 3+2 in some spots! But that was FUN!

[@liv-bm9qg]

The viola part to this symphony is deadly...and so SO fun

[@gabriellan8551]

i'm a viola and i played this for auditions...it was cancer esp the runs

[@waltuh2.3bviews3secondsago3]

Same with cello part

[@ykendall9836]

Damned good piece of music. I played principal flute on this in my conservatory days and have NEVER forgotten how much it meant to me to be entrusted with such a part.

[@elisecurran9497]

I'm a clarinetist who doubles on sax and flute, and you know I got myself a copy of the flute solo in mvt 3, so I could practice it and dream of being a surprise sub...hahaa!

[@cufflink44]

I've never understood why this piece isn't HUGELY popular. You'd think every major symphony orchestra in the world would want to program it regularly! It's got everything--great tunes, spectacular orchestration, wit, excitement, accessibility. I can't think of a better orchestral showpiece. Maybe it needs to be retitled. "Symphonic Metamorphosis of Themes by Carl Maria von Weber" isn't exactly inviting. Anyone have any ideas?

[@Eorzat]

According to the description and Wikipedia (however accurate they may be), this is likely to be Hindemith's most popular work. Maybe Hindemith's entire repertoire needs to be retitled...

[@Cephalopoda]

Favourite of mine, this. We played it years ago with Edinburgh University Music Society. It does get played!

[@Cephalopoda]

Also, it's not like it has funny orchestration demands or anything. Piccolo, contra, four horns, nothing unexpected.

[@steveburrus9347]

I couldn't AGREE WITH YOU mpore about this Hindemith piece. Ex cept for Beethoven he was the best/finest musical composer out of Germany. Too damn bad that Germany had to also produce the likes of Hitler!

[@grahammarshall5417]

It was on the very first LP I bought back in 1958! Enjoyed it ever since.

[@VincentGiza-Composer]

0:00 - I. Allegro 3:56 - II. Turandot, Scherzo 11:17 - III. Andantino 15:33 - IV. Marsch

[@ludwigvanbeethoven553]

damn

[@Giganfan2k1]

Ludwig Van Beethoven IK, R?

[@MREmusique]

The march at the end has always been one of my favourite pieces. even after nearly 50 years I still get goose bumps when I hear it.

[@steveegallo3384]

@@MREmusique -- Thanks for making me re-hear. I always thought this Marsch was Berlioz......

[@drketpanv]

Stevee GALLO Hmm....

[@steveegallo3384]

@@drketpanv -- Sorry...I meant Gounod, obviously......

[@paxwallacejazz]

It's fun and mischievous instead of HEAVY.

[@markbell9973]

Downright wickèd. 🔥💔😈💘🌄 (Germany 1943 OMG!) 🌄

[@itamarbar9580]

It's more than that. It's absolutely adorable

[@eldrake35]

Holy crap ! I used to find this composer boring before. Thank you.

[@jppitman1]

Well, I think one could say that a number of his brass sonatas are indeed boring. This piece however is brilliant.

[@sawyerpoet]

The popularity of this piece comes and goes. There was a big resurgence in the 70s that I was a part of. You couldn’t turn on an FM /classical station (remember those?) anywhere in the US without hearing it eventually. Audiences love it, it’s fun for the orchestra, and it’s beautifully crafted.

[@tortysoft]

I went to several performances at the RFH in the UK then. Utterly splendid!

[@paigebaird6807]

the ksmea hs all state orchestra played this and only had 2 days to prepare it and it sounded so amazing. they just performed today and i can’t stop listening to the piece.

[@pinkcedar]

Was there ! Great experience. At first I didn’t like the song but then it got better and better as we rehearsed

[@crazycarrot6387]

@@pinkcedar Wow ! Small world, one might call it tiny even. 197,000,000 square miles of world surface, yet so much Ocean ! And also, so small compared to Jupiter !! But yet, so many people live on this Earth… This Truly Is a Metamorphosis Moment !

[@ayldance0581]

@@pinkcedar unfortunately, i was not there 😵😵😹😹😹🥱🥱🥱👽👽👽😼😼😼💆‍♀️💆‍♀️💆‍♀️

[@pinkcedar]

@@ayldance0581 I’m upset. Hopefully we can meet again great friend.

[@haranshsinghgugnani7187]

i was also there, it was one heck of a piece, bass section rocked

[@michellechurchill8392]

This was my conducting final back in the 80s when I was getting my bachelor of music in education! Such a fun piece!

[@maddierosemusic]

Neat! What school did you go to? I got my BMEd from Catholic University in DC, and never had a conducting final. I feel that I got a shitty education. 1983. I did get 3.875 GPA. After I graduated, friends I met said - "You have a degree in Music and do not know who the "Cure" is or "REM". I agreed with them.

[@davidmayhew8083]

The lengthy flute solo in the 2nd movement is virtuoso stuff. Marvelous score. Full of wit and dramatic charms.

[@czechacadorch]

1. Allegro 0:00 2. Scherzo (Turandot): Moderato - Lively 3:55 3. Andantino 11:16 4. Marsch 15:31

[@calebginsberg5224]

Thanks

[@spencermoore4870]

Just what I was looking for

[@sumopee5976]

thanks bro i have to take notes on this

[@chloe-bg4wm]

Our HS band was supposed to play this, and I was super excited!! That is, until everything got shut down. We played andantino for our ballad during marching band though.

[@danielroisman]

Ah, Hindemith truly outdid himself here! What an orchestra! What ecstasy!

[@deltaveedesignconsulting7697]

Blown away! I heard Hindemith many many years ago at a concert in my youth. I remember really liking it. Not sure if this is it, but very glad I rediscovered Hindemith.

[@cobblestonegenerator]

I find it depressing that many people cant stand his other works calling them to Heavy and to academic. Hindemith is probably my second fave composer of the 20th century beaten only by Britten. I love almost everything he composed. Also, When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloomed is NEVER MENTIONED and it is imo one of the most important works of all music beaten again by Britten and his War Requiem.

[@vladasunlight2644]

I am one of those who prefer heavier music by Hindemith especially live.

[@TheRealGCZ]

My high school's marching band's music is based off of this piece, and it's SO COOL to listen to the original and be able to pick out all the parts that I play

[@samrusso4374]

Do you go to Brownsburg in Indiana by any chance?

[@jenandpaulmartin2856]

Cool piece. My daughter is currently learning this (along with 5 other exerpts) for her TSYO audition in September. Wish her luck.

[@gognaclump2075]

Timpani excerpt starts at 8:32. Second excerpt starts at 9:27.

[@andrewfeazelle]

lol

[@seanyan1624]

Last excerpt starts at 10:32

[@coasterdragon155]

this whole pieces is a banger--i love it. wish hindemith got more love :(

[@wichitazen]

This is one of my three or four favorite compositions by anybody; my son said when he gets married he will have this played as they walk down the aisle. In my opinion, this is one of the very best 20th century works, played wonderfully here by the SFO. Very underrated composer, who has the best endings of movements ever. And, a violist to boot!! We violists are a best held secret in classical music....

[@deutschliebe]

Man, I love everything about this piece, especially the first and fourth movements.

[@peterpike8887]

Playing last movement in band tonight on horn2. This excellent performance is an inspiration.

[@harlekiinii]

You posted this right as I'm riding a wave of obsession with this piece; and the SFSO with Blomstedt is my favorite version! Thanks!

[@francisbacon-moneygrabber9996]

Amazing that 2. part! The brass with timpanis ... perfect!

[@summerishere5146]

Man was makin sick beats in the 40s

[@jan-olofpohlin8667]

Great work and Great to have access to the score. Many thanks to Bartje Bartmans

[@didierschein8515]

Thank you for the score. It`s a very beautiful orchestration.

[@JamesLee-yn4wj]

For self reference 14:10 Principal flute excerpt

[@wichitazen]

I have always had this as onenof my all time favorite pieces!!

[@didierschein8515]

it`s a wonderful score. Thank you very much.

[@StephanieJeannot]

This is a beautiful work of art

[@JohnJApanovitch]

I went on a college visit early last year (before the pandemic), and I got to sit in with the wind ensemble there. They were actually playing this piece, as well as "Carnival of Venice". Absolutely wonderful piece of music. :)

[@paolozignani]

una gioia assoluta questo Hindemith

[@jam4541]

id throw it back to movement 4 ngl

[@zinkmystic88]

bro lmao

[@osutuba]

I never played this in orchestra, but I did play it in Wind Ensemble and Marching Band (last movement only). I agree that this piece needs to be featured in more professional orchestra's repetoires!

[@elmiramuradova561]

Thank you grand piece

[@crazyorganist1609]

Wow absolutely amazing

[@tentacle1984]

Holy flute solo, Batman. Incredible piece, with hints of Symphony in Bb.

[@taraventaube1977]

This is incredible

[@freeridermaster0987]

awesome thank you!!

[@julianazowtohoowa5660]

14:05 flute solo

[@797brm]

Juliana Żukowa have you played the solo ever?

[@redpenink12]

That flute solo is awesome!

[@charlesreidy2765]

It is sublime.

[@sylwiawrzesien518]

dzięki :D

[@davidrehak3539]

Paul Hindemith:Szimfonikus Metamorfózis Carl Maria von Weber témájára 1.Allegro 0:00 2.Scherzo (Turandot): Moderato - Vivace 3:55 3.Andantino 11:16 4.Marsch 15:31 San Franciscó-i Szimfonikus Zenekar Vezényel:Herbert Blomstedt

[@didierschein8515]

Igen.

[@stephenjablonsky1941]

This is proof that Hindemith could write high quality music when he wanted to. This is fun for the orchestra and the audience.This piece works!

[@DdavidoffC]

I think you mean Hindemith could write high-quality music when someone else wrote it first.

[@stephenjablonsky1941]

@@DdavidoffC How right you are!

[@mouthpiece200]

@@DdavidoffC Someone else wrote it first?

[@SingularisPisum]

this is a true banger.

[@pedrogouveia4638]

If you’re looking for the Timpani excerpts check letter S at 8:30, letter V at 9:25, and finally 2 bars before Z, after the tremolos, at 10:32 ;)

[@Ollymin]

Thanks!

[@trishnguyen2218]

Gosh the flutes sound amazing 😍😍

[@toddmichaelwillis]

V Nguyen Principal Flute for this recording was Paul Renzi, my teacher, a year before I started taking lessons.

[@ykendall9836]

Great parts for all of us. He wrote very well for flute, including the sonata and in the woodwind quintet.

[@jonhowell5014]

I've been told that the job of a conductor is very, very hard. Watching the pages of this score flash by while listening... I can't actually imagine how difficult it must be. To be able to track every measure of every instrument in the score, while guiding, modulating and correcting in real time...? It's like juggling bowling balls, flaming torches, and chainsaws. But harder.

[@censorshipisreal9370]

No wonder some top notch conductors opt for memorizing scores lol

[@MattWeisherComposer]

This is my orchestral aesthetic. I love it.

[@valerieheinderyckx4506]

Splendide..!

[@Giganfan2k1]

Top 3 of Paul's Pieces. In my top 5 overall. Yes, I am a fan.

[@torterrakart7249]

Which would be the other ones?

[@SOBIESKI_freedom]

Good stuff!! Hindemith is up there! I hope he's enjoying his time there in Heaven.

[@samuelcabellogonzalez7590]

I. Allegro: 00:00 II. Scherzo: Turandot: 03:56 III. Andantino: 11:19 IV. Marsch: 15:33

[@dirkverbrugghe7091]

Masterpiece!!

[@teunvandesteeg7836]

I am very impressed.

[@johnvalentine4720]

Hindemith is so underrated. It's strange, but he sounds so English ( particularly Britten ).

[@evanhansen1608]

so good

[@oravenheart]

love this

[@palt23]

Ok look, if I'm listening to this in the background while I'm doing my homework/playing a game I don't want to be interrupted by an ad every time a movement ends. I would think that it would be common courtesy for your listeners to not bombard them with a midroll ad every 5 minutes.

[@bartjebartmans]

You are listening for free, you don't pay a penny, you have no right to complain. Get an ad blocker, oh wait, you don't want to pay.

[@Berlinchesmusic]

@@bartjebartmans 😂😂

[@PeterLunowPL]

a masterpiece !

[@Djefff_]

13:49 is such a magical moment

[@Daniela_happy]

I’ve never heard of Hindemith’s masterpieces, but I think it’s an interesting composer, his harmonies are incredible and has a really good point of view of the music, I’ll listen to more masterpieces of him

[@OrlandoAponte]

I'm not a horn player, so I may have no idea what I'm talking about, but the horn part at 19:43 sounds brutal

[@tyty2tiethr335]

Lets gooo! All state bois!

[@christophercolling2292]

hell yea dude, except i didnt make phil

[@bokonoo77]

so much Elegance

[@jomben]

here after this fella apparently put a C♭ on my sheet music for an all-district taudition piece i have to do, glad to know his actual music sounds lovely! genuinely so confused on how the hell our music ended up looking like that. it may have even been the people who put it on our papers tho considering hindemiths name was spelt as Hindmeth and symphony was spelt as symphonie but idk lol

[@Schizopantheist]

Palais Schaumburg, Momus and the whole mid to late 2000s blog scene brought me here. As well as my vague and passionate yearning.

[@itsamusicthing]

18:43 So good

[@6pades]

7:11 - 7:55

[@calebginsberg5224]

Our marching band show used the excerpt from 3:44

[@huelz6024]

Cable sameeeeee

[@MrBochawa]

Lawl, Nice.

[@tomcomposer]

French horn players know exactly which bit is their favourite. Am I right?

[@gregoryf4186]

All of it

[@artisan337]

Shades of Mahler's 6th Symphony throughout the first movement, especially at 3:03

[@duncanmccaulkiner378]

Well only in the percussion riff tbh

[@joemcle6521]

@@duncanmccaulkiner378 nope listen to trill in the woodwind like 3 secs later

[@lorrenkayyesuarez9081]

6:42 violin excerpt 2

[@josephsummer777]

thanks "Bartje."

[@zhaoweiqu]

Tuba except starts at 6:54

[@maddiekhubbard3640]

flute solo: 14:11

[@vitomuzevic6422]

Reharsal marks: 8:23 9:27 10:30

[@tatyanazhelyazkova6464]

14:11 Flute orchestral excerpt

[@sayanskaru7811]

Estas ruinas que ves, de Jorge Ibargüengoitia, me trajo aquí.

[@ethandexter9470]

Rehearsal S 8:25 Rehearsal V 9:23 2 before Rehearsal Z 10:33

[@egb625able]

last movement sounds like the planets

[@tedfreed6036]

I rate this a fairly spectacular performance (as a horn player, I am biased; the section was as good as it gets). I'd love to know who it is?

[@bartjebartmans]

If you click on the tab " more" you see the info. The San Francisco Symphony conducted by Herbert Blomstedt.

[@davidholloway6950]

5:40 horn solo

[@abejerozeng]

听得我魂不守舍

[@erickjoelcz]

13:50

[@ThePianoFortePlayer]

15:31 Movement 4

[@lucienr7931]

19:05

[@emmacampos5980]

Hola, necesito por favor si puedes pasarme las partituras, para un práctico en la facultad. Gracias

[@joshbernard7919]

At 15:33 is the 3rd movement of my marching bands halftime show

[@williamkim1198]

8:32 timpani excerpt

[@geevanh4200]

#SEMPER FIDELIS #QUA PATET ORBIS #JE MAINTAN DRAI ! ♫♪ great ♫♪♫♪♫♪☺ BRAVISSIMO @/bisbis 🎶🎵🎼 great music! a well tuned ensemble that sounds like an organ ! Fabulous banding! Compliments! #SEMPER FI #QPO #JMD🎵🎼🎼🎶🎵🥁🎺👌👌🙏🎺

[@dylanle8239]

6:50

[@moonjunsu]

3:56 II

[@WilliamBottka]

8:28 Timpani Excerpt

[@dknvb]

scherzo best :0