HINDEMITH, Paul [1895-1963]: Guguck. "Ein Guguck auf dem Birnbaum sass". Music manuscript for the first performance as a transcription by Hugo Holle. [Juni 1925]. Quarto 35 x 28 cm. 5 pages on 16-stave music paper, 60 bars in total.

MANUSCRIPT FOR THE FIRST PERFORMANCE! The a cappella composition "Guguck" was premiered in Donaueschingen on 6/26/1925 by Hugo Holle, the leader of the Stuttgart Madrigal Association. The present copy, made by Hugo Holle, represents his working copy for the premiere, since it is marked with his additional interpretative entries in red and on the upper right corner of the first page of the manuscript is also noted by him in red: "Premiere: Donaueschingen 1925. July 26. unprinted". The "Guguck" is the 7th song from the collection "Lieder nach alten Texten," op. 33, composed by Hindemith in 1923. The premiere was a great success. The press praised: "A truly new madrigal style.... complete unity of polyphonic melody and concentration of expression. Similar to Hindemith's last chamber music works, old tradition comes alive from a new spirit" (Briner, A.: Hindemith, p. 48). Hindemith had originally refused of printing in a letter to his publisher Schott: "The Guguck may be published in a later booklet" (GA, VII, 5). However, his appreciation for these "Lieder nach alten Texten" increased after a successful performance in Waschington in April 1937, so that, inspired by his great successes in the USA, he even decided to "prepare a new English version of these songs" (Briner, A.: Hindemith, p. 119).