A series of powerful, largely radical works in the early 1920s saw Hindemith established as Germany's leading young composer. In 1936 he was asked by choreographer and dancer L onide Massine to collaborate on a ballet project and Hindemith proposed scenes from the life of St Francis of Assisi. The resulting ballet, Nobilissima Visione (The Noblest Vision), is a work of lyricism, elegy and majesty. This is the first recording of the complete ballet score, not the three-movement concert suite that Hindemith later extracted. The Five Pieces for String Orchestra is an earlier, spirited work dating from 1927.

(Schott). Originally published in the 1940s, Paul Hindemith's remakable textbooks are still the outstanding works of their kind. In contrast to many musical textbooks written by academic musicians, these were produced by a man who could play every instrument of the orchestra, could compose a satisfying piece for almost every kind of ensemble, and who was one of the most stimulating teachers of his day. It is therefore not surprising that nearly forty years later these books should remain essential reading for the student and the professional musician.

German Flute Music showcases the brilliant artistry of Jeffrey Khaner, adding another gem to his AVIE discography.

Through his previous five releases on AVIE, flautist Jeffrey Khaner has become a familiar face whose performances never cease to please and astonish in equal measure. Principal flute of the Philadelphia Orchestra, his extensive forays into the solo canon have cast him in a glowing spotlight. Revered by flautists world-wide, his music-making has also been a delightful discovery for scores of classical music fans. 'German Flute Music' will be no exception as it traverses some rare corners of the flute repertoire, ranging from delightfully melodic works by turn-of the-century composer Sigfrid Karg-Elert and Walter Gieseking (better known as the great pianist), who was an almost exact contemporary of Paul Hindemith who was a teacher of Harald Genzmer and a great influence on Hans Werner Henze.

Paul Hindemith had a multifaceted career as an internationally acclaimed composer, performer, festival organizer, teacher, lecturer, and writer. Born in Germany in 1895, he was a leading member of the musical avant-garde, and when the Nazis came to power his compositions eventually were banned as "decadent art." In 1938 Hindemith went into voluntary exile in Switzerland and in 1940 migrated to the United States, where he became a citizen. His return to Europe after the war in response to urgent calls for help in rebuilding European musical life gave rise to many inner emotional problems. This selection of letters written by Hindemith spans his entire career, from the First World War until shortly before his death in 1963. Translated and edited by a leading authority on Hindemith, the letters (some of which were written in English) reveal that he was an observant, engaging, and opinionated correspondent who took a keen interest in contemporary culture and politics. The first such selection to appear in English, the letters deal with personal and professional matters and are addressed to his wife, publishers, and friends in both Europe and America. Among the many important personalities with whom he came into contact were the composers Stravinsky and Milhaud, the conductors Mengelberg, Furtwängler, Koussevitzky, and Klemperer, and the choreographers Massine and Balanchine. Published to coincide with the centenary of Hindemith's birth, the letters fill out our portrait of him and provide an absorbing chronicle of his life and times.