Paul Hindemith's Sonate (Sonata) for flute and piano is a twentieth century standard in flute literature, generally performed by flutist at the advanced collegiate level.
Born in Germany in 1895, Paul Hindemith was one of the principal German composers of the first half of the 20th century, as well as a leading musical theorist. He devised his own compositional process and sought to revitalize tonality. The result is a large collection of works that have Hindemith's flair for interesting consonance and dissonance, and a charm that highlights the virtuosic possibilities of performers and instruments alike.
Hindemith completed the Sonata for Flute and Piano (1936) before resigning from his post at the Berlin Hochschule. He composed the work for his colleague, flutist Gustav Scheck, but the Nazi regime forbade the premiere performance.