Musical architecture in Hindemith's first piano sonata

Paul Hindemith's three piano sonatas, composed in 1936, are considered a significant contribution to the literature of the instrument. From a compositional standpoint, they represent a synthesis of traditional and progressive elements. The First Sonata is the largest and the most important of the three, according to authorities. The purpose of this study is to provide the performer with a comprehensive analysis of the First Sonata that will enhance the interpretive process. The analytical data are evaluated with respect to their integration into a master plan. The scope of the study includes the consideration of Friedrich Hölderlin's poem "Der Main," designated by Hindemith as the inspiration for the composition of the sonata. A step-by-step comparison of the formal aspects of the sonata and the poem is presented throughout the study, revealing a master design common to both works of art. The study suggests that Hindemith was impressed so greatly with the creative logic of Hölderlin's poem that he undertook to translate it into musical terms