Paul Hindemith - 7 Trio Pieces For 3 Trautoniums

Composer: Paul Hindemith (16 November 1895 -- 28 December 1963)
Performer: Oskar Sala (Mixtur-Trautonium)
Year of recording: 1977

7 Trio Pieces for 3 Trautoniums {7 Triostücke für 3 Trautonien}, written in 1930.

00:00 - 1. Langsam
01:30 - 2. Langsam, Mit Fernwerk und Klangfarbenwechsel
02:52 - 3. Mäßig bewegt
03:56 - 4. Breit
05:09 - 5. Mäßig schnelle Achtel
06:35 - 6. Lebhaft, mit Kadenzen
09:56 - 7. Langsam, Mit Hauptwerk, Fernwerk, Klangfarbenwechsel

On 20 June 1930 an 'Electric Concert' at the 'New Music in Berlin 1930' festival was given, in the Large Hall of the Berlin Music University. The main attraction was the world premiere of 'Trio-Pieces' by Paul Hindemith for Friedrich Trautwein's electric musical instrument, the Trautonium. This was the first time the Trautonium was presented to the public.

On one of the three instruments Hindemith himself played the top part, his pupil in composition and partner of F. Trautwein, Oskar Sala, played the middle voice and the piano-teacher Rudolph Schmidt the bass part. The present recording of the Triostücke was made in 1977 by Oskar Sala on his Mixtur-Trautonium. Hindemith's top part can be heard in the centre of the room, Sala's original middle voice to the left and the bass part first performed by Rudolph Schmidt comes from the right. The lively response to the successful premiere induced Hindemith to further experiment with the Trautonium as a solo instrument.

These 7 Trios are from a manuscript called: "Des Kleinen Elektromusikers Lieblinge".