Paul Hindemith

Born: 1895 | Died: 1963

Composer

Born in Hanau in western Germany, Paul Hindemith started violin lessons at age nine. Soon thereafter, he began to earn his living at a young age by taking almost any kind of musical job, such as playing the violin in cafes and theaters.

In 1915 he became the leader of the Frankfurt Opera Orchestra. His own compositions were played at various music festivals. Throughout his career, he gained great influence as he pioneered what he called “Gebrauchsmusik” (utility music), or music for everyday occasions. His teaching methods also differed a lot from those of his fellow contemporaries as he approached composing music as a craftsman rather than an artist.

When the Nazis came to power in 1933, Hindemith’s work was increasingly restricted as it was considered “Bolshevik” by the Nazi party’s cultural leaders.

As a result, Paul Hindemith finally left Germany in 1938 and, after short stays in Turkey and Switzerland, settled in the U.S. in 1940. Upon arrival, he took a teaching position at Yale University. In 1946, he and his wife Gertrud von Rottenberg became American citizens. Hindemith returned to Switzerland a few years later to teach at Zürich University, but gave up teaching in 1957 to concentrate on composing and conducting. He died in Frankfurt.

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