Music Chat: Hindemith Metamorphoses Weber

Hindemith's Symphonic Metamorphosis of Themes by Carl Maria von Weber is one of his most popular orchestra works (despite the unglamorous title), but did you ever wonder where in the world of Weber those themes came from? Well, I did, and I've got the answer for you. It's fascinating.

[dennischiapello]

This was truly educational! I've heard the Metamorphoses a lot, mainly because it's coupled with every Hindemith orchestral work I'd rather listen to! But this made me appreciate it more. I certainly was surprised by how minimal were Hindemith's changes to the melodies. Also, It makes it clear why he didn't use the word Variations.

[colinwrubleski]

The trio to the finale of the Hindemith version invariably inspires thoughts of a pirate ship boldly and high-spiritedly slashing through a glorious stream of water on a bright summer's day. In rehearsal, whenever we NYOC (National Youth Orchestra of Canada) 1990 violinists would rest during the heroic horn fanfares, we would proudly incline our scrolls forward like the bow of said pirate ship, and more daringly, in a performance of the Hindemith at Roy Thomson Hall (Toronto) in August of that year, concluding the first half of the last concert ending our summer concert tour (with the "tiny" little Bruckner 6 in the 2nd half...), my buddy, the principal second violinist, would bob his fiddle up and down as if riding the waves. Hard to restrain from a Cheshire cat grin in the moment...

[tomomara]

I LOVE Hindemith and this was sooo fascinating!...I hear this piece in my mind ALL the time...I often wondered how he came up with such memorable melodies...and now I know!...But, truly, Hindemith has a way of making everything epic! Thank you!

[davidgoodman]

Thanks, Dave. I love the Hindemith, and have always wondered about the Weber originals. I, too, regret that we no longer hear much Weber.

David

[BillConk]

On a side note, I live in Sydney, and had to Google the Queensland Phil.

The NZSO recording of the first movement is on the slow side of other performances and recordings I’ve heard. It gives a certain “dignity” to the sense of humour behind the music.

[trueflint]

As a bassoonist, I just wanted to point out that von Weber's Ungarische Fantasie is a standard part of the bassoon repertoire.

[timbakerbartholomew]

Thank you so much for this Thank you for this enthusiastic elucidation. I too have always wondered where those themes came from. I know all the operas and concertos and yet was bewildered. So, thank you!

[ammcello]

Where was this video when I had to do a pre-concert lecture on SMoToCMvW? In my prep I had to search and search but I found those little piano gems. What Hindemith does with these pieces is such a marvel... love him! Props to you for putting this out there - it’s amazing how few people actually do this kind of work. And Weber is so underrated, too! (And Hummel!)

[alanglick]

Stuart Malina did a performance of the Hindemith with The Florida Orchestra comparing the original Weber pieces to Hindemith’s Metamorphoses just as you did with this video. Eye opening, led me to an even greater appreciation of what Hindemith accomplished.
Regarding the use of the word “trio” to designate contrasting sections in dance type movements, it was Lully who started the practice of actually using three instruments for this section. Other composers copied this procedure, and the signifier “trio” was retained for this section even after the tradition of using three instruments/voices was dropped.

[coloraturaElise]

Weber's marvelous clarinet works, which he wrote for the virtuoso Heinrich Baermann, are alive and well, and amongst the most-played pieces in any clarinetist's repertoire. His Concertino Op. 26 is probably played more than any other work, including the Mozart Concerto. btw, I love Hindemith, have played a band transcription of the Symphonic Metamorphosis, and chose the march as my piece in an air baton conducting competition!! :-) Great, great music, and one of my favorites of the 20th century!

[paullaw]

Brilliant! Your enthusiasm is wonderfully contagious😅

[edwinbaumgartner]

It is a fantastic piece, no question, and yet - my problem with Hindemith is nearly always the scoring. I do not understand why this guy in his youth did "Sancta Susanna", "Mörder", the "Three Songs" with colours of Schreker's richness, and then he starts a black-and-white-program. Even the Metamorphoses, which are brilliant and full of energy, have no real colour. That's why I prefer non-german neoclassics like Poulenc or Prokofiev or Malipiero - and, of course, Stravinski. (I do not mention my beloved Bartók, because he is, in my opinion, rather folklorist than neoclassic - and for me the greatest composer of his generation.) Nevertheless: Your demonstration, what Hindemith did with Weber is great. I love this stuff. Thank you so much, once again!

[BeatrixGroves]

Hindemith views Weber in much the same way as a cubist painter sees a portrait: the subject may be recognisable, but it's full of abrupt angles, clashing colours, and planes of reference that are uncertain. That's what makes the Symph Met so exciting. The familiar in an unfamiliar setting.

[stevenmsinger]

That was just wonderful. Thank you so much, David. The Symphonic Metamorphosis is one of my favorite Hindemith pieces. I truly don't understand why it isn't programmed more. It's funny but I don't think anyone really knew where those Weber tunes were from before your video. How delightful to hear them! Weber - like Mendelssohn - is under appreciated these days. These videos are just a joy.

[presbyterosBassI]

Wonderful piece! I got to speak with Robert Shaw when he did it with the Philadelphia Orchestra. He had done it with the NBC Symphony (or as he said, "Toscanini let me..."

[pastrychef]

I got this Decker/Noi Zoiland Symphonic Metamorphosis for a grand 50p about 3 months ago in a charity shop along with some high end trousers for £5 in total. How's about that? I love it through and through. Hindemith does not get the love he deserves.

Yes, the melodic banging and booming is a thing in the 2nd mvt. of the Sym.Met.

Seriously, good thing I had those trousers. This recording is 10/10.

Thank you Dave for this!

[rogerkranz]

Thank you, Dave! The Metamorphoses was (were?) my introduction to Hindemith when I was in high school. So after all these years it was a delight to hear the Weber originals. I especially enjoyed your focus on the beautiful B section of the 3rd movement. Wonderful!

[imok]

Thank you, David, for filling the gaps in my knowledge of the original inspiration of Hindemith's delightful work! Indeed, Weber wrote a great deal of good music that nobody seems to listen to. So just to give one example, among his chamber works (of which the great clarinet quintet is perhaps the most publicly notable) there's also the meltingly beautiful Trio in G minor for Flute, Cello and Piano, Op. 63. Highly recommended!

[paul-francislaw]

Your discussion has given me a quite new connection to this piece. It is essentially about metamorphosis - an experiment in musical transformation. And all done for the sheer joy of it (hence its jocularity). But you can't admire metamorphosis if you don't know what is being metamorphosed. 😆 It brings to mind Nietzsche's remark that 'the passions enjoy themselves in music' (In der Musik amuesieren sich die Leidenschaften). Thank you. More, please! 🤣

[onnoalink]

This was a very interesting chat again, thank you. I already found the Von Weber CD on Spotify (here in the NL). 
Perhaps a joyful continuation on this subject: William Walton's Variations on a Theme by Hindemith. He sort of treats the Hindemith theme the same way as Hindemith handles the Von Weber tunes.