Schwanendreher, Der

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Schwanendreher, Der (The Swan-turner). Conc. for va. and small orch. by Hindemith based on Ger. folk-songs, the soloist being (in composer's words) one ‘who comes among merry company and performs the music he has brought from afar: songs grave and gay and, to conclude, a dance’. Movts. are entitled: (1) Zwischen Berg und tiefem Tal (Between mountain and deep valley); (2) Nun laube, Lindlein, laube (Now shed your leaves, little linden); (3) Seid ihr nicht der Schwanendreher? (Is it not the swan-turner?). F.p. Amsterdam 1935, Hindemith (soloist), Mengelberg (cond.).