Kleine Kammermusik for Wind Quintet Op 24 No.2 (Hindemith)
Movements
i Lustig. Mäßig schnell Viertel, ii Walzer: Durchweg sehr leise, iii Ruhig und einfach, iv Schnelle Viertel, v Sehr lebhaft
Notes
In Hindemith’s Kleine Kammermusik the composer alludes to Stravinsky by utilizing repeated patterns, similar to repetitive patterns in a groove-like rhythm in that movement. Hindemith references jazz in movement titles such as “Shimmy” and “Ragtime”. The exploration of jazz by both Stravinsky and Hindemith reflects Ravel’s practice of using Basque dance music.
Hindemith composed the work for the Frankfurter Bläser-Kammermusikvereinigung (Frankfurt Wind Chamber Music Association), one of the first wind ensembles in Germany, and dedicated it to them. He took some material from the earlier work, Kammermusik No. 1, compared to which this was named Kleine. The music was premiered in Cologne on 13 June 1922 as part of the second Rheinisches Kammermusikfest (Rhenish Chamber Music Festival) by the Frankfurter Bläser-Kammermusikvereinigung.
