Samuel Barber (1910-1981)
Samuel
Barber was born in West Chester, Pennsylvania. His musical ability
emerged at an early age and he had already filled a post as an organist
when he was twelve. He studied at the Curtis Institute of Music in
Philadelphia with Rosario Scalero for composition, Isabelle Vengerova
(piano) and Emilio de Gogorza (voice). He was later to return to the
Institute to teach orchestration and composition. He began composing
seriously in his late teenage years and by the age of twenty three an
orchestral work, Overture to the School for Scandal, was performed by
the Philadelphia Orchestra. Orchestral writing was to become a main
feature of his composition and produced the work for which he is most
well known now, Adagio for Strings. He achieved international
prominence as the first American to be performed by Toscanini and the
NBC Symphony when they introduced the Adagio along with Essay No. 1 for
Orchestra. After serving in the Army Air Corp (which commissioned him
to write his Second Symphony) during World War II he returned to live
in the USA, near Mt. Kisco where he shared a house with another great
American composer Gian Carlo Menotti. Most of his post-war works were
written here. He won two Pulitzer prizes in 1958 (the opera Vanessa-
text by Menotti) and 1963 (Concerto for Piano and Orchestra). The world
premiere of the opera Antony and Cleopatra opened the new auditorium of
the Metropolitan Opera at the Lincoln Centre for the Performing Arts on
16 September 1966. Although Barber is most popularly remembered for the
Adagio for Strings, his compositions for voices are a significant part
of his work. He was the nephew of the celebrated contralto Louise Homer
and thus had access to many great singers and songs from an early age,
later studying voice himself. This background is reflected in all his
writing. One of the most significant and memorable qualities of his
work is his ability to write sustained and flowing melodies. Combined
with an undoubted skill in orchestration this lyricism produces an
intense, emotional strength in his writing which was sustained
throughout his career. "His work as a whole is like a living organism
with a clearly stamped individuality, enriching itself as it grows"- Nathan Broder/Guild Music
COMPOSITIONS Barber Links ~ ~ ~ Works by Genre
A Slumber Song of the Madonna, voice and piano (1925)
There's Nae Lark, voice and piano (1927)
Prelude and Fugue, B minor, organ (1928, unpublished; published (?), 2008)
Serenade, string orchestra or string quartet, op. 1 (1929)
3 Songs, voice and piano, op. 2 (1927, 1928, 1934)
Dover Beach, voice and string quartet, op. 3 (1931)
Violin Sonata, violin and piano, op. 4 (1931; unpublished)
Cello Sonata, cello and piano, op. 6 (1932)
The School for Scandal, overture, orchestra, op. 5 (1931-33)
Music for a Scene from Shelley, orchestra, op. 7 (1933)
Love at the Door, voice and piano (1934)
Serenader, voice and piano (1934)
Love's Caution, voice and piano (1935)
Night Wanderers, voice and piano (1935)
Of That So Sweet Imprisonment, voice and piano (1935)
Strings in the Earth and Air, voice and piano (1935)
The Virgin Martyrs; Let Down the Bars, O Death, chorus, op. 8 (1935-36)
Symphony No. 1, orchestra, op. 9 (1936) [in one movement]
3 Songs, voice and piano, op. 10 (1936)
String Quartet, op. 11 (1936)
- Adagio for Strings, string orchestra, op. 11 (1936) [mvt 2 from String Quartet, 1936]
- Agnus Dei, for chorus and organ/piano, op. 11 (1967; arr. from Adagio for Strings)
Beggar's Song, voice and piano (1936)
In the Dark Pinewood, voice and piano (1937)
First Essay, orchestra, op. 12 (1937)
4 Songs, voice and piano, op. 13 (1937, 1938, 1939, 1940)
Violin Concerto, op. 14 (1939-40)
A Stop Watch and an Ordnance Map, male chorus, brass and timpani, op. 15 (1940)
Reincarnation, chorus, op. 16 (1940)
Second Essay, orchestra, op. 17 (1942)
2 Songs, voice and piano, op. 18 (1942, 1943)
Funeral March, band (1943)
Commando March, band (1943)
Symphony No. 2, orchestra, op. 19 (1944; rev. 1947; destroyed, except for mvt 2, rev. as Night Flight, op. 19a, 1964)
- Night Flight, op. 19a (1964; rev. version of mvt 2 of Symphony No. 2)
Excursion, piano, op. 20 (1944)
Capricorn Concerto, flute, oboe, trumpet and string orchestra, op. 21 (1944)
Cello Concerto, op. 22 (1945)
Medea – Cave of the Heart, ballet, op. 23 (1946)
- Medea’s Dance of Vengeance, orchestra, op. 23a (1955) [excerpt from ballet Medea - Cave of the Heart]
Knoxville: Summer of 1915, soprano and orchestra, op. 24 (1947)
Nuvoletta, voice and piano, op. 25 (1947)
Piano Sonata, Eb minor, op. 26 (1949)
Mélodies passagères (5 songs), voice and piano, op. 27 (1950-51)
Souvenirs, ballet, op. 28 (1952)
Hermit Songs (10 songs), voice and piano, op. 29 (1952-53)
Prayers of Kierkegaard, soprano and alto ad lib., chorus and orchestra, op. 30 (1954)
Summer Music, woodwind quintetc, op. 31 (1956)
Vanessa, opera, op. 32 (1957)
Wonderous Love, variations on a shape-note hymn, organ, op. 34 (1958)
A Hand of Bridge, chamber opera, op. 35 (1958)
Nocturne (Homage to John Field), piano, op. 33 (1959)
Toccata festiva, organ and orchestra, op. 36 (1960)
Dïe natali, choral preludes for Christmas on Silent Night, orchestra, op. 37 (1960)
Piano Concerto, op. 38 (1960-62)
- Canzone (Elegy), flute and piano, op. 38a (1961; arr. from mvt 2 of Piano Concerto)
Andromache’s Farewell, soprano and orchestra, op. 39 (1962)
Chorale for Ascension Day, chorus (1964)
Antony and Cleopatra, opera, op. 40 (1965-66)
Mutations from Bach, brass choir and timpani (1968)
Despite and Still, song cycle (5 songs), voice and piano, op. 41 (1968-69)
Twelfth Night, 4 voices, op. 42 (1968)
The Lovers, baritone, chorus and orchestra, op. 43 (1971)
Fadograph of a Yestern Scene, orchestra, op. 44 (1971)
3 Songs, voice and piano, op. 45 (1972)
Ballade, piano, op. 46 (1977)
Third Essay, orchestra, op. 47 (1978)
Canzonetta, oboe and strings, op. 48 posth. (1977-78)
WORKS BY GENRE Barber Links ~ top of page ~
Dramatic/Theater
Medea – Cave of the Heart, ballet, op. 23 (1946) [excerpt: Medea’s Dance of Vengeance, orchestra, op. 23a, 1955]
Souvenirs, ballet, op. 28 (1952)
Vanessa, opera, op. 32 (1957)
A Hand of Bridge, chamber opera, op. 35 (1958)
Antony and Cleopatra, opera, op. 40 (1965-66)
Orchestra
Serenade, string orchestra or string quartet, op. 1 (1929)
The School for Scandal, overture, orchestra, op. 5 (1931-33)
Music for a Scene from Shelley, orchestra, op. 7 (1933)
Symphony No. 1, orchestra, op. 9 (1936) [in one movement]
Adagio for Strings, string orchestra, op. 11 (1936) [mvt 2 from String Quartet, 1936]
First Essay, orchestra, op. 12 (1937)
Second Essay, orchestra, op. 17 (1942)
Symphony No. 2, orchestra, op. 19 (1944; rev. 1947; destroyed, except for mvt 2, rev. as Night Flight, op. 19a, 1964)
Night Flight, op. 19a (1964; arr, from mvt 2 of Symphony No. 2)
Medea’s Dance of Vengeance, orchestra, op. 23a (1955) [from Medea – Cave of the Heart, ballet, op. 23, 1946]
Dïe natali, choral preludes for Christmas on Silent Night, orchestra, op. 37 (1960)
Fadograph of a Yestern Scene, orchestra, op. 44 (1971)
Third Essay, orchestra, op. 47 (1978)
Band
Funeral March, band (1943)
Commando March, band (1943)
Soloist(s) w/Orchestra
Violin Concerto, op. 14 (1939-40)
Capricorn Concerto, flute, oboe, trumpet and string orchestra, op. 21 (1944)
Cello Concerto, op. 22 (1945)
Toccata festiva, organ and orchestra, op. 36 (1960)
Piano Concerto, op. 38 (1960-62) [mvt 2 arr. as Canzone (Elegy), flute and piano, op. 38a, 1961]
Canzonetta, oboe and strings, op. 48 posth. (1977-78)
Chorus w/Orchestra
Prayers of Kierkegaard, soprano and alto ad lib., chorus and orchestra, op. 30 (1954)
Choral
The Virgin Martyrs; Let Down the Bars, O Death, chorus, op. 8 (1935-36)
Agnus Dei, for chorus and organ/piano, op. 11 (1967; arr. from Adagio for Strings; originally from String Quartet, 1936)
A Stop Watch and an Ordnance Map, male chorus, brass and timpani, op. 15 (1940)
Reincarnation, chorus, op. 16 (1940)
Chorale for Ascension Day, chorus (1964)
Twelfth Night, 4 voices, op. 42 (1968)
Chamber
Serenade, string orchestra or string quartet, op. 1 (1929)
String Quartet, op. 11 (1936)
Summer Music, woodwind quintetc, op. 31 (1956)
Mutations from Bach, brass choir and timpani (1968)
Solo Instrument
Violin Sonata, violin and piano, op. 4 (1931; unpublished)
Cello Sonata, cello and piano, op. 6 (1932)
Canzone (Elegy), flute and piano, op. 38a (1961) [arr. from mvt 2 of Piano Concerto, op. 38, 1960-62]
Piano/Organ
Prelude and Fugue, B minor, organ (1928, unpublished; published (?), 2008)
Excursion, piano, op. 20 (1944)
Piano Sonata, Eb minor, op. 26 (1949)
Wonderous Love, variations on a shape-note hymn, organ, op. 34 (1958)
Nocturne (Homage to John Field), piano, op. 33 (1959)
Ballade, piano, op. 46 (1977)
Vocal
A Slumber Song of the Madonna, voice and piano (1925)
There's Nae Lark, voice and piano (1927)
3 Songs, voice and piano, op. 2 (1927, 1928, 1934)
Dover Beach, voice and string quartet, op. 3 (1931)
Love at the Door, voice and piano (1934)
Serenader, voice and piano (1934)
Love's Caution, voice and piano (1935)
Night Wanderers, voice and piano (1935)
Of That So Sweet Imprisonment, voice and piano (1935)
Strings in the Earth and Air, voice and piano (1935)
3 Songs, voice and piano, op. 10 (1936)
Beggar's Song, voice and piano (1936)
In the Dark Pinewood, voice and piano (1937)
4 Songs, voice and piano, op. 13 (1937, 1938, 1939, 1940)
2 Songs, voice and piano, op. 18 (1942, 1943)
Knoxville: Summer of 1915, soprano and orchestra, op. 24 (1947)
Nuvoletta, voice and piano, op. 25 (1947)
Mélodies passagères (5 songs), voice and piano, op. 27 (1950-51)
Hermit Songs (10 songs), voice and piano, op. 29 (1952-53)
Andromache’s Farewell, soprano and orchestra, op. 39 (1962)
Despite and Still, song cycle (5 songs), voice and piano, op. 41 (1968-69)
Twelfth Night, 4 voices, op. 42 (1968)
The Lovers, baritone, chorus and orchestra, op. 43 (1971)
3 Songs, voice and piano, op. 45 (1972)
BARBER LINKS Works by Genre ~ top of page ~
Paul Jacobs to Perform Unpublished Work of Barber in Philadelphia (Michael E. Lawrence, New Liturgical Movement)
Procedural Consistencies in Samuel Barber's Piano Music (Even Edward Mack, ETD)
Samuel Barber: America's Composer (Paul Varnell, Independent Gay Forum)
Samuel Barber's Concerto and the 1930s (Thomas Bowes)
Samuel Barber's Vanessa (The Opera Lover's Companion, Charles Osborne, Yale Univ Pr, books.google.com)
Songs of Samuel Barber (Joseph K. So, La Scena Musicale)
Source of Samuel Barber's Vanessa? (Linda Donelson, karenblixen.com)
Books
Samuel Barber: A Guide to Research (Wayne Clifford Wentzel, Routledge, books.google.com)
Samuel Barber: The Composer and His Music (Barbara B. Heyman, Oxford Univ Pr, books.google.com)
Vanessa by Samuel Barber (geocities)
Composer website [none at the moment]
Barber @ Wikipedia
Barber @ About.com
Barber @ AC/Associated Content
Barber @ American Classical Music Hall of Fame
Barber @ Answers.com
Barber @ The Aria Database
Barber @ Art of the States
Barber @ Audiophile Audition
Barber @ Baer Piano Studio
Barber @ Boston Modern Orchestra Project
Barber @ Brain-Juice
Barber @ Chester Novello
Barber @ Classic Cat
Barber @ Classical Archives
Barber @ Classical.com
Barber @ Classical Composers Database
Barber @ Classical Net
Barber @ ClassicsToday
Barber @ composition:today
Barber @ Dilettante Music
Barber @ Dr. Estrella's Incredibly Abridged Dictionary of Composers
Barber @ Everything2
Barber @ Find a Grave
Barber @ fuguemasters
Barber @ Fyne Times
Barber @ Guild Music
Barber @ Infoplease
Barber @ Gay for Today
Barber @ glbtq.com
Barber @ Hyperion Records
Barber @ IMDb (Internet Movie Database)
Barber @ InstantEncore
Barber @ jdmoncada.tripod.com
Barber @ Karadar Classical Music
Barber @ The Kennedy Center
Barber @ The Los Angeles Philharmonic
Barber @ Magazzini-Sonori.it
Barber @ The Metropolitan Opera Stories of the Great Operas (John W. Freeman, Met. Opera, books.google.com)
Barber @ M.L.A. Obituary Index
Barber @ The Modern Word
Barber @ MSN Encarta
Barber @ Music Academy Online
Barber @ MusicWeb International
Barber @ musicianguide.com
Barber @ MySpaceMusic
Barber @ Naxos
Barber @ netstate/People of Pennsylvania
Barber @ The New York Times
Barber @ NNDB
Barber @ NPRmusic
Barber @ Opera Today
Barber @ PBS
Barber @ Penn Special Collections
Barber @ Piano Society
Barber @ Portland Chamber Orchestra
Barber @ REC Music Foundation /The Lied and Art Song Texts Page
Barber @ San Francisco Bach Choir
Barber @ G. Schirmer
Barber @ Singers.com
Barber @ Suite.101
Barber @ United States Marine Band
Barber @ US Opera
Barber @ WQXR
Streaming Audio
Barber @ American Classical Music Hall of Fame
Barber @ The Classical MIDI Connection
Barber @ Classical MIDI Files
Barber @ Classical Archives
Barber @ Dan's Classical Music Page
Barber @ last.fm
Barber @ NPRmusic
Barber @ PRX (Public Radio Exchange)
Barber @ Rhapsody
Recordings
Barber @ ArkivMusic
Barber @ ClassicsOnline
Barber @ Discogs
Barber @ YouTube
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