Signed study score for the important twentieth-century composer's symphonic work of 1934. Hindemith has signed boldly on the title. [PN] B.S.S. 34052. 90 pp. Some light external toning, but overall very fine. 5.5 x 7.25 inches (13.7 x 18.5 cm).

Symphony: Mathis der Maler (Matthias the Painter) is among Hindemith's most famous orchestral works. Music from the symphony was incorporated into, or reworked for, his opera Mathis der Maler, which concerns the painter Matthias Grünewald. Hindemith composed the symphony in 1934, while plans for the opera were in their preliminary stages. The conductor Wilhelm Furtwängler asked him at that time for a new work to perform on an upcoming Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra concert tour, and Hindemith decided to compose symphonic movements that could serve as instrumental interludes in the opera, or be drawn upon or elaborated into various scenes. Furtwängler and the Berlin Philharmonic gave the first performance on 12 March 1934. The symphony was well received at its first performances, but Furtwängler faced severe criticism from the Nazi government for performing the work, given that other Hindemith scores had been denounced by the party as "degenerate" and "Jewish connected."