Paul Hindemith

Dame Music

We owe it to Paul Hindemith's interest in education, which, in turn, was owed not only to the professional musicians and composers, that he composed for children and amateur musicians as well. Dame Music stands for this dialogue to make contemporary music for amateurs accessible not only in theory but also in practice. Dame Music was composed during his stay in the USA after he had been asked for an American edition of his composition Frau Musica. Musik zum Singen und Spielen auf Instrumenten nach einem Text von Luther, Op. 45 No. 1 from 1928. In 1942 he wrote the successful American version Dame Music for which Hindemith also revised some instrumental parts. The vocal setting was adopted without any changes and its text translated into English. With great success: Within just a few years, Dame Music had been included in the repertoire of amateur musicians in the United States.