The originality of neoclassic principles reflection in the Sonata for two pianos by Paul Hindemith
Authors: Sediuk I.O. 
Published: August 2020

Background. The neoclassicism of the first decades of the 20th century turned to be a kind of opposition to atonalism, which captured many radical composers. The supposed “bilingualism” of neoclassicism opened wide perspectives for individual concepts realization, broadening the boundaries of new knowledge of the Baroque and early classicism. Instrumental sonata, including the Sonata for Two Pianos naturally entered the neoclassical trend mainstream in a number of others, non-symphonic classical and romantic genres, compensating for the rejection of effective dramaturgy by enhancing the contrast between the cycle’s parts, thus tending to Baroque cyclic compositions. For Paul Hindemith, whose name is always associated with this art movement, “communication” with musical past was not an instant hobby but something that determined the focus of his creative thought. Objectives. The article’s purpose is to reveal the peculiarity of neoclassic principles embodiment in the Sonata for Two Pianos by P. Hindemith, to consider its composition, semantic and structural units. Methods. The study’s methodology is based on historicism principle, which involves the study of artistic phenomena being connected with the established musical art experience, and a comprehensive approach that allows involving of different methods of music analysis. Results. Sonata for Two Pianos (1942) consists of five movements; each one has its name. P. Hindemith’s individual approach to the sonata genre is usually evaluated in terms of the artist’s refusal of traditional composition, changes in sonata form, which often includes dramatic function changing. This is due to the desire to make equal all the forms involved in the cycle, in particular the most important polyphonic ones. The movements’ names “The Bells”, “Allegro”, “Canon”, “Recitative”, “Fugue” reveal the suite’s features. “The Bells” opening the cycle show a wide range of musical associations: from French harpsichordists gravitating to sound expression to representatives of different national cultures of the 20th century. The textured thematic drawing of the part reveals another modus of play with tradition expressing itself in improvisational principle domination and Baroque fantasy revival. The Old English verse text preceding “Recitative” reminds of 16–17th century program compositions and shows connection with opera art. “Recitative” combines concise musical phrases typical for Baroque culture vocal genres and typical rhythm formulas that embody the freedom of language intonation and bring in improvisation and allusion on basso continuo. The reference to Baroque era polyphony is evidenced by “Canon” and “Fugue”. In the “Canon”, polyphonic interaction is reached by two piano parties and not by individual voices of the four-voice ensemble texture. The slow tempo Lento, the static movement of musical thought, where “step” pulsation is felt in 4/8 metrics, unusual for classic and romantic culture, the predominance of quiet sound implies tragic pathetic element in “Recitative”. These two parts, “Canon” and “Recitative”, constitute a complementary semantic pair as play modes of tragic imagery embodiment through Baroque era high style, its objective and subjective beginnings. Actually, sonata genre is represented only by the second part “Allegro” with its fast tempo, clarity of form, volitional character of the main theme, scherzo grace of the subsidiary theme, large coda. The composer maintains contrast method choosing his complex of expressive means for each exposition sections. The Sonata is finished by a grand three-theme fugue with metro-rhythmic design associated with the corresponding polyphonic music structures, and more, the initial fifth step corresponds to J. S. Bach’s “Fugue Art”. The first theme’s imperative character establishes the dramatic imagery as fundamental in Sonata’s artistic concept. Its intonational content is characterized by fourth and fifth interval structures, some of them are creating the frame of the whole cycle. The second theme is more melodic and contrasting. The bass register of the third theme in rhythmic augmentation, the wave-like pattern of its melodic line covering the range of the diminished octave, is perceived as embodying of the modern thinking tension, the “echo” of Baroque era aesthetic ideas. The artistic idea of the Sonata for Two Pianos by P. Hindemith is built on drama concentration, overcoming suite separation of the parts and reflecting the full life realities and the inviolability of Universe laws. Conclusions. Sonata for Two Pianos by P. Hindemith returns to its origins thanks to the 20th century artists’ interest to the Baroque culture, demonstrating irregular genre boundaries and the ability to maintain high polyphony means, unregulated cycle and synthesis of several compositional principles within one work. The neoclassical principles did not deprive the Sonata of being presented in that time’s social and spiritual events, and allowed it to generalize modern world conflicts with the help of established semantic and compositional units. Thus, P. Hindemith’s Sonata for Two Pianos preserves its own approach to musical experience and possibilities of ensemble technique distinguished in almost full absence of performing competition idea, dialogism in its traditional reflection while retaining the parties’ equality.