Credits:

Hindemith (1895-1963)

Description:

Hindemith's cantata "Mainz Procession" was premiered on June 23, 1962 at the Mainz Municipal Theater. The work, with a text by Karl Zuckmayer, was commissioned by the city to commemorate the 2000th anniversary of the construction of Mogontiakum, a military base built by the Roman Empire, from which the city of Mainz originated. Hindemith and Zuckmeyer painstakingly researched the history of Mainz, portraying representative people from Mainz's history, including Romans, Charlemagne, Franks and Burgundians, Boniface, Willigis, Barbarossa, Walpod, Isenburg, Frauenloop, and Gutenberg, incorporating the dialect of the region into the text. The work climaxes with the appearance of the Prussians, and the full house audience is said to have applauded the work with delight. Along with two other Hindemith works, the album includes the carnival theme song "Narhala March" by Georg Carl Zrainer, founder of the Mainz Carnival Society (MCV). Naxos Japan