The Hindemith Riddle

Paul Hindemith was a prolific composer, a virtuoso violist, and could play and wrote for most every instrument. He even wrote a few organ sonatas. However, there is a question that has come to pester me lately that I just don't have an answer for. It deals with his theoretical contributions.

In my college days I heard reference to Hindemith Craft from time to time. I never looked into it until recently when I decided to start collecting just a few alternative theory books. Actually, I think I put it on my Amazon wish list and got it as a Christmas gift... Anyway, it happens to be a multi-volume work. He wrote it in the 1930's and published it in three parts. Three.

The books consist of a Theoretical part outlining his new system for analysis and making sense of music. The second part contained exercises and theory around two-part writing. The third book naturally had exercises and theory around three-part writing. The first two books were published in the late '30s, and were translated into English the first couple of years in the '40s. The third book was published in 1970, seven years after his death, and has never been translated.

Why?

I have no explanation. It makes it difficult for those of us that actually know there exists a third volume and have been caught up in the cliffhanger at the end of part 2, and don't know German. With some typing and some Google translating, it's a slow process, and time that is better spent elsewhere.

So what's the big deal? Did the publishers nerve run out after the first two volumes, when they saw they weren't selling very well, and later decided to publish the last volume because it would sell better now that he was dead and appeared to remain somewhat popular? Is the Hindemith Craft so neglected that people in the States don't care what's in the third and final volume?

I may never know. Because I may never read a Hindemith biography.

(Which one of these doesn't belong...)