Der Schwanendreher

Paul Hindemith's Der Schwanendreher (literally, "The swan-turner", in reference to cooking over a spit) is a concerto for viola and orchestra. Der Schwanendreher occupies a place at the core of the viola concerto repertoire, along with the concertos by Walton and Bartók. It was composed in 1935 and premiered by the composer himself at a performance in Amsterdam on 14 November 1935. Each movement is based on a separate medieval German folk song, thus, it is sometimes referred to as the "Concerto from Old Folk Songs". This composition draws its title from the final movement's folk song base, "Aren't you the swan-turner?".

The orchestra calls for 2 flutes (one doubling on piccolo), oboe, 2 clarinets, bassoon, 3 horns, trumpet, trombone, timpani, harp, and a string section of 4 cellos and 3 double basses. This orchestration is uniquely interesting due to its lack of violins and violas which benefits the composition by making it easier for the solo viola to be heard.

The movements are:

1. Zwischen Berg und tiefem Tal. Langsam – Mäßig bewegt, mit Kraft (Between mountain and deep valley. Slow - Moderately moving)
2. Nun laube, Lindlein, laube. Sehr ruhig – Fugato (Now grow leaves, little linden tree, grow leaves. Very calm - Fugato)
3. Variationen: Seid ihr nicht der Schwanendreher? Mäßig schnell (Variations: Aren't you the swan turner? Moderately fast)

Planned British premiere

The British premiere was scheduled for 22 January 1936, with the composer as soloist in London. However, just before midnight on 20 January, King George V died. The following day, from 11 am to 5 pm, Hindemith wrote Trauermusik in homage to the late king. It was also scored for viola and orchestra and was performed that evening, in a live broadcast from a BBC studio, with Adrian Boult conducting and the composer as soloist. The scheduled premiere of Der Schwanendreher was cancelled. Trauermusik contains quotations from Mathis der Maler and Der Schwanendreher.^[1]

References

1. ^ Michael Steinberg, The Concerto