Kammermusik is the name given to a series of eight musical composition

Musical composition

Musical composition can refer to an original piece of music, the structure of a musical piece, or the process of creating a new piece of music. People who practice composition are called composers.- Musical compositions :...

s by the German

Germans

The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....

 composer Paul Hindemith

Paul Hindemith

Paul Hindemith was a German composer, violist, violinist, teacher, music theorist and conductor.- Biography :Born in Hanau, near Frankfurt, Hindemith was taught the violin as a child...

.

Written between 1921 and 1927, the first two works (Kammermusik No. 1 and Kleine Kammermusik — Little Chamber Music) are for small ensembles (12 piece and wind quintet

Wind quintet

A wind quintet, also sometimes known as a woodwind quintet, is a group of five wind players . The term also applies to a composition for such a group....

 respectively), and share the opus number

Opus number

An Opus number , pl. opera and opuses, abbreviated, sing. Op. and pl. Opp. refers to a number generally assigned by composers to an individual composition or set of compositions on publication, to help identify their works...

24. Kammermusik No. 2 to Kammermusik No. 5 (Opus 36) are for larger ensembles and are effectively concertos. The final two works form Opus 46.

As Calum MacDonald notes, the majority of the works are not 'chamber music' in the traditional sense of the word, as they require larger forces than normally understood by the term. Indeed, six are effectively concertos (Hindemith's subtitles say as much). However, in contrast to the much larger forces (and sounds) Hindemith previously employed, the works are very much chamber-styled if not truly chamber works.

The works

Kammermusik No. 1, op. 24 no. 1 (1922) for twelve soloists (flute, clarinet, bassoon, trumpet, accordion, piano, xylophone, string quintet, slide whistle, and percussion)

• I. Sehr schnell und wild
• II. Mäßig schnell Halbe
• III. Quartett: Sehr langsam und mit Ausdruck
• IV. Finale 1921: Lebhaft

Kleine Kammermusik, op. 24 no. 2 (1922) for wind quintet

• I. Lustig. Mäßig schnell Viertel
• II. Walzer. Durchweg sehr leise
• III. Ruhig und einfach
• IV. Schnelle Viertel
• V. Sehr lebhaft

Kammermusik No. 2, op. 36 no. 1 (1924), 'Piano Concerto'

• I. Sehr lebhafte Achtel
• II. Sehr langsame Achtel
• III. Kleines Potpourri: Sehr lebhafte Viertel
• IV. Finale: Schnelle Viertel

Kammermusik No. 3, op. 36 no. 2 (1925), 'Cello Concerto'

• I. Majestätisch und stark. Mäßig schnelle Achtel
• II. Lebhaft und lustig
• III. Sehr ruhige und gemessen schreitende Viertel
• IV. Mäßig bewegte Halbe. Munter, aber immer gemächlich.

Kammermusik No. 4, op. 36 no. 3 (1925), 'Violin Concerto'

• I. Signal: Breite, majestätische Halbe
• II. Sehr lebhaft
• III. Nachtstück: Mäßig schnelle Achtel
• IV. Lebhafte Viertel –
• V. So schnell wie möglich

Kammermusik No. 5, op. 36 no. 4 (1925), 'Viola Concerto'

• I. Schnelle Halbe
• II. Langsam
• III. Mäßig schnell
• IV. Variante eines Militärmarsches

Kammermusik No. 6, op. 46 no. 1 (1927), 'Concerto for viola d'amore and chamber orchestra'

• I. Mäßig schnell, majestätisch –
• II. Langsam –
• III. Variationen –
• IV. Lebhaft, wie früher –

Kammermusik No. 7, op. 46 no. 2 (1927), 'Concerto for organ and chamber orchestra'

• I. Nicht zu schnell
• II. Sehr langsam und ganz ruhig
• III. [Achtel bis 184]