Bertold Hummel, Komponist, 1925-2002

Bertold Hummel

Music for children and adolescents

Hummel, born in 1925 in Hüfingen (Baden) and for many years President of the Würzburg Music College, shared with Bartók, Hindemith and Genzmer (from the latter, incidentally, he learnt compositional handiwork) the pedagogical aim of creating realisable music of the highest craftsmanship and artistic standard, suited to helping children and young people to become familiar with the playing of melodies, rhythms and sounds which they would in all likelihood not have heard in their cradle.
No doubt we all meet the following situation in our teaching: even the least departure from the rhythmic or harmonic norm - even a dissonant interval of a second or syncopations - are seen by our pupils, whose musical background may be of the most basic kind, as unwelcome disturbances. The path leading from this narrowness to a competent relationship to new music is fearfully long and must be traversed with prudence and steadfastness of purpose. Bertold Hummel has made his way along this path with particular success.

Let us take as an example the successive editions of the Saßmannshaus method "Früher Anfang auf der Geige/dem Cello" ("An early start on the Violin/ Cello"), which he enhanced with numerous charming duets. Here we can be sure that thousands of children have in the earliest phases already worked with pieces by this composer and have grown up with them.
This and the fact that for all later stages in the learning process duos, sonatinas, short concert and orchestra pieces - all entertaining and easy to play - are available and enjoy great popularity among teachers of all types of instruments have led to the situation that Bertold Hummel is linked in the minds of many with the "Sonatina" in the same fatal way as before him Clementi or Kuhlau, whose very usable pedagogical output caused the wide range of their other works to be neglected.

(from: Michael Corßen: Der Komponist Bertold Hummel, ESTA-Nachrichten 51 / März 2004)

Bertold Hummel speaks

about Music for children

a children's book (video)

Bertold Hummel with his grandchildren (April, 2002)

enlarge picture

Bertold Hummel composed many works with "child-friendly" music born from a child-like spirit, as we could read in the journal pianonews 4.02. All these works take account of the capacities and musical preferences of young players. Perhaps here the explanation is to be found for the stunning success of these compositions, which have been sold in thousands and performed constantly in music schools and competitions for children and young people.

Young musicians play works by Bertold Hummel on	ABRSM with works by Bertold Hummel

works for ...

Scool Orchestra

THREE LITTLE PIECES for Strings

ADAGIO for Strings in memoriam Benjamin Britten

EPIGRAMS for Strings

A LITTLE STRING MUSIC

DIVERTIMENTO for Violin Orchestra

CONCERTINO CLASSICO for Vl. (1st Position) and Strings

3 MINIATURES for Children's Orchestra (Violins and Violoncelli)

SOUNDFIGURES I-III for Strings

WALTZ FOR INKEN for Strings and Piano

for Christmas

NOËL - A Little Christmas Suite in 6 Movements

CHRISTMAS SUITE for chamber orchestra

Bertold Hummel with his children choir in St. Konrad/Freiburg 1957

Choir

MISSA BREVIS (without Credo) (in Latin) for Soprano and Alto Voices, Organ

Four Chansons after Mascha Kaléko

Piano

SONATINA for Piano

10 PIANO PIECES FOR CHILDREN

3 WALTZES for Piano (2 and 4 hands)

PLAYING KEYS FOR CHILDREN

MIMI'S FINGER FUN

TRIO FACILE for Violin, Viola and Piano

Piano teachers and family members who want to encourage young people musically should definitely hear these pieces, which may well send them in search of the printed music.
Internet Review (allgame.com) by James Manheim

Bertold Hummel with his grandchild Fabian playing the first performance of "Concertino classico"
Würzburg, 5th January 2001

Saxophon

SONATA BREVIS for Alto Saxophone in E-flat and Piano

8 BAGATELLES for Soprano Saxophone in B-flat

NOËL for 3 Saxophones (S. in B-flat, A. in E-flat, T. in B-flat)

16 CHRISTMAS CAROLS for 2 Alto Saxophones in E-flat

VOCALISE for Alto Saxophone and Piano/Organ

Bassoon

SONATINA for Bassoon and Piano

NOËL - A Little Christmas Suite in 6 Movements for Oboe, Clarinet in B-flat and Bassoon

16 CHRISTMAS CAROLS for 2 Bassoons

Horn

SONATINA for Horn in F and Piano

PARAPHRASE on an alemann Folk Song for 4 Horns

Trumpet

SONATINA in G for Trumpet in C and Piano op. 1

Trombone

SONATINA for Trombone and Piano

20 CHORALES for Advent and Christmas set for 4 Trombones

PARAPHRASE on an alemann Folk Song for 4 Trombones

Tuba

SONATINA for Bass Tuba and Piano

3 BAGATELLES for Bass Tuba and Piano

Violin

SONATINA for Violin and Piano op. 35a

DIVERTIMENTO for 4 Violins or Violin Orchestra

DUOS for 2 Violins

"... AND A TANGO" for Violin and Piano

CONCERTINO CLASSICO for Vl. (1st Position) and Strings

TRIO FACILE for Violin, Viola and Piano

3 MINIATURES for 2 Violins. and Violoncello

16 CHRISTMAS CAROLS for 2 Violins (Oboe (Flute)/Violin)

SONATINA for Violin and Piano op. 107a

SIMPLY CHILD'S PLAY for 2 or 3 Violins

Viola

SOSTENUTO for Viola and Piano (Organ)

LITTLE SUITE for Viola and Piano

SONATINA No. 1 for Viola and Piano

SONATINA No. 2 for Viola and Piano

ROMANCE for Viola and Piano

DUOS for 2 Violas

ALBUM LEAF for Viola and Piano

ELEGY für Viola and Piano (Organ)

FINALE ( Introduction and Allegro molto) for 4 Violas

TRIO FACILE for Violin, Viola and Piano

16 CHRISTMAS CAROLS for 2 Violas

Bertold Hummel - In Print
This department lists string music and books recently printed or reissued. Publications of interest are reviewed briefly. In each issue, a particular composer is featured with some biographical details and Information about works of interest to string players.
It is no surprise to discover that composer Bertold Hummel trained as a cellist as well as a composer. He writes with an intimate knowledgc of strings, and seems to favor the lower sound of viola and cello. His special talent is for composing pieces which are full of variety and vitality, hut technically easy enough for capablc students. These pieces will delight teachers and students who are looking for accessible contemporary music.
Works such as the Suite, Op. 78 for violin solo, reveal a complicated side to Hummel's nature. But he is at his best in pieces such as the Sonatina No. l, Op. 35, originally written in 1969 for violin and piano, and also available in arrangements for viola and piano, and cello and piano. The strong rhythms and bold harmonies of the first movement contrast with the second movement, an elegy played con Sordino. The lively last movement alternates an ala breve time signature with 3/4 time. The piano part supplies a good deal of musical interest, and the piece is always musically gratifying. The Sonatina No. 2 for cello and piano is another piece in Hummel's varied, economical style. Like the Sonatina No. l, this piece is made up of three contrasting movements, with a slow middle movement. The entire cello part can be played in the first position. However, the piano part, although well-balanced with the cello part, is far from easy, and the effect is somewhat reminiscent of the Three Easy Pieces by Hindemith. The Little Suite, for cello and piano, and the short but effective Arioso for cello and piano, from 1986, round out Hummel's significant contribution to the literature for cello and piano. His Sonarina Op. 69b for double bass and piano will be welcomed by teachers and young bass players. Hummel works with uncomplicated musical material, and yet he manages continually to surprise and delight with his harmonic and rhythmic contrasts.
Although many of Hummel's pieces for solo stringed instrument and piano are clearly intended for students, I would not hesitate to place them on a recital program. Their beauty and excitement could not fail to please an audience.
(D.M.R) Strings/USA Feb. 1991