Paul Hindemith - Sonata for Viola and Piano in F major, Op. 11 No. 4

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- Composer: Paul Hindemith (16 November 1895 -- 28 December 1963)
- Performers: Kim Kaskashian (viola), Robert Levin (piano)
- Year of recording: 2000

The first Sonata for viola and piano [Sonate für Bratsche und Klavier], also known as Sonata in F major, Op. 11 No. 4, written in 1919.

The sonata is in three movements, all played without a break:
00:00 - I. Fantasie
03:10 - II. Thema (mit Variationen)
07:13 - III. Finale (mit Variationen)

This is the fourth of five instrumental sonatas comprising Hindemith's opus 11. This sonata and the following Op. 11 No. 5 for solo viola mark Hindemith's decision to abandon playing the violin in favour of its larger cousin. Hindemith himself played the viola (along with a slew of other instruments) and so it is little surprise that he could write so well for this instrument. The composition is arguably his most popular chamber composition.

- The work opens with a lovely, utterly memorable melody and the mood remains light throughout this three-minute movement.
- The second movement, which is slightly longer, is just as lyrical and appealing in its theme and variations. The composer noted the "folksong" character of the melodic material here.
- The finale, at over nine minutes, is also a theme-and-variations scheme, but with a bit more muscle.

The music is still more 'traditionally' romantic compared to the music Hindemith would compose later on in his career.