How did this

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Sean Kennedy
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How did this

Post by Sean Kennedy »

So I've been looking for over the last 3 months, and I really can't find out who premired the Hindemith Sonate for Bass tuba at all. My teacher, Richard White, doesn't know. I know that Hindemith wrote it in 1955, and it was permired in 1961, but I can't find out who premired it. All Mr. White can tell me is that it was writen for the Military band, and I've looked for the members back in that time, but everywhere I've looked doesn't list them. Please tell me if you know anything at tubamaster_1@yahoo.com. Thanks

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JB
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Hindemith Sonate premiere and performer

Post by JB »

Sean Kennedy wrote:So I've been looking for over the last 3 months, and I really can't find out who premired the Hindemith Sonate for Bass tuba at all. My teacher, Richard White, doesn't know. I know that Hindemith wrote it in 1955, and it was permired in 1961, but I can't find out who premired it. All Mr. White can tell me is that it was writen for the Military band, and I've looked for the members back in that time, but everywhere I've looked doesn't list them. Please tell me if you know anything at tubamaster_1@yahoo.com. Thanks

Sean

I did a bit of research into this matter some time back, and ultimately corresponded with the Hindemith Foundation in Germany. Short answer is that it appears that neither the person who premiered the work nor detailed information about the premiere is known.

Quoting the letter to me [in part]:
Hindemith Foundation wrote:Unfortunately we do not have any information about the premiere or the performers.

Hindemith noted in his work list: "1955 / Sonate für Baßtuba und Klavier / I Allegro pesante / II Allegro assai Blonay 23. I. 55 / III Variationen Blonay 27. I. 55 / Bei Schott erschienen Okt. 57 / Ms. hier / Skizzen Emma Lübbecke 1958".

Yours sincerely,
Dr. Heinz-Juergen Winkler
Hindemith-Institut
Frankfurt am Main
From what source have you determined that it was premiered in 1961, and can you please elaborate on the idea that it was written for military band. This is new information to me.
Thanks
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I Know Who Did It...

Post by Navytubaman »

Loving a good mystery I had to look into this subject.

For the first time ever in public, I shall now reveal the name of the person, the location, the instrument used, mouthpiece, and what they had for breakfast.




Are you ready...



Here it comes...



The person who played the premiere is..................Wait, who are you?


What are you doing with that gun?

NO! - Put it down

Don't pull that trigger

SEVERAL LOUD BANGS HEARD NOW

Augh,

Ack,

SPfff,

gasp,

gasp,

the.....person.....who........played.............is.................Colonel Mustard, in the library....



Thank You, Thank You... The Comedy stylings of the person formerly known as Navytubaman...
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Re: I Know Who Did It...

Post by JB »

Navytubaman wrote:...Colonel Mustard, in the library...
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Re: Hindemith Sonate premiere and performer

Post by Tom Waid »

Sean Kennedy wrote:From what source have you determined that it was premiered in 1961, and can you please elaborate on the idea that it was written for military band. This is new information to me.
Thanks
Perhaps there is some confusion between the Sonata for Tuba and the Symphony in B-flat for band which was composed for The U. S. Army Band.
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Post by thedeep42 »

what are the earliest recordings of this? i've heard one was done once with glenn gould (a favourite even though i'm a crappy pianist)
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Post by Tubaguy56 »

Well, this is purely speculation, but wouldn't it make sense if Hindemith himself had played the premier? Hindemith never wrote a piece he himself couldn't play, he was a genius and knew how to play all the instruments he wrote sonatas for. Whether that means he was of a performer's quality or not, I do not know, but that just seems like that could be a possibility.
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Post by eupher61 »

The 1943 date is part of the confusion; earlier editions had that as the copyright date. At some point, I think on TubaEuph, that was explained after some research was done. I have no memory of what that explanation was.

The Glen Gould recording is with Abe Torchinsky, on a set with all the brass sonatas played by the Philadelphia principals. Yes, you can hear Gould singing quite well. I was once told that Gould had worked with Hindemith on the piano part for the Tuba Sonata, but I have always been somewhat skeptical of that.

Roger Bobo recorded it in what, '64? Before that, I dunno.
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