Search Pytheas   use Pytheas SiteSearch   need help searching?  

Barbara Harbach (1950-     )

Barbara Harbach, composerBarbara Harbach has a large catalog of works, including symphonies, works for chamber ensemble, string orchestra, organ, harpsichord, piano, musicals, choral anthems, film scores, modern ballets, and many arrangements for brass and organ of various Baroque works.  She is also involved in the research, editing, publication and recording of manuscripts of eighteenth-century keyboard composers as well as historical and contemporary women composers. Her formative education included a course of study in Frankfurt with the great German organist Helmut Walcha. Harbach earned her doctorate at the Eastman School of Music at Rochester, NY, after studying at Yale and Pennsylvania State. Her work is available in both recorded and published form through MSR Classics, Naxos Records, Gasparo Records, Kingdom Records, Albany Records, Northeastern Records, Hester Park, Robert King Music, Elkan-Vogel, Augsburg Fortress, Agape Music and Vivace Press. Harbach is also the editor of the journal, Women of Note Quarterly.
- for more about Harbach . . .

COMPOSITIONS                                                            Harbach Links     ~ ~ ~     Works by Genre    ~ ~ ~    What's New . . .
Praise Him with the Trumpet, chorus and keyboard (1977)
The Christmas Babe, chorus and organ (1990)
Infant of Light, chorus and keyboard (1990)
Sing, Alleluia, chorus and keyboard (1990)
There's a City on a Hill, chorus and keyboard (1990)
We Proclaim the Wondrous Glories, chorus and organ (1990) [arr. of work by J. J. Mouret]
What is the World to Me, chorus and organ (1990) [arrangement]
Our Christmas Gift, chorus and keyboard (1990)
Sing! Christ is Born, chorus and keyboard (1990)
This Night in Bethlehem, chorus (1990)
Praise Him with the Trumpet, chorus and organ (1990)
Daniel and the Beastly Night, musical (1991) [by Barbara Harbach and Jonathan Yordy]
A Page from the Christmas Story, youth musical (1991) [by Barbara Harbach and Jonathan Yordy]
He Will Care For Me, chorus and keyboard (1991)
Of Christ's Dark Cup, chorus and keyboard (1991)
As Sun Disperses the Mourning Clouds, chorus and keyboard (1991)
To Kindle Every Frozen Heart, unison voices and keyboard (1991)
Bathe My Soul, chorus (1991)
Rolled Away, chorus and keyboard (1991) [arr. of spiritual]
Luther Cantata, chorus and keyboard (1991)
Audible Light, chorus and keyboard (1992)
Love Has Opened Wide the Door, chorus and keyboard (1992)
Spaindango, harpsichord (1992) [from Contemporary Composers for Harpsichord, Volume I]
Hester - The Scarlet Letter, musical (1993) [based on Hawthorne’s "The Scarlet Letter"; 32 original songs]
Fanfare and Toccata on "Lasst Uns Erfreuen", organ (1993)
Tres Danzas, harpsichord (1993) [from Contemporary Composers for Harpsichord, Volume II]
A Suite of Holiday Trios, organ (1994)
Summershimmer, organ (1994)
Phantasy and Phugue, piano (1995)
Suite Alternatives, piano (1995)
Rhapsodie Jardine, oboe and string orchestra (1996)
Rhapsody Ritmico, brass quintet (1996; pub. 2004)
Daystream Dances, oboe and piano (1996)
Frontier Fancies, violin and piano (1996; arr. for violin and orchestra, 2006)
Easter Toccata, organ (1996)
Toccatas and Fugues on American Hymns, organ (1996)
Fantasy and Fugue on "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot", organ (1997)
Fantasy and Fugue Frantique, harpsichord (1997; pub. 2004)
Toccata on "All Hail the Power" (Diadem), organ (1998)
French Suite on "Adeste Fideles", organ (1998)
Tom and Sally - A Slave to Love, musical (1999) [based on the 38 yr relationship between Thomas Jefferson &
    Sally Hemings; 26 original songs]
Toccata and Variations on "The Lord is My Shepherd", organ (2000)
Teaming the Shrew - A Mate for Kate, musical (2001) [based on Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew; 18 original songs]
Emanations of the Sacred Harp, cello and piano (2001; pub. 2004; arr. for band, 2005)
Suite on German Chorales, organ (2002)
On Our Way Rejoicing, organ (2002) [postludes, voluntaries and fantasies on sending hymns]
Azmon, organ (2002) [also in On Our Way Rejoicing, 2002]
Festival Flourish (Proclamation), organ (2002) [in Organ Music for the Seasons, Vol. 3]
Pioneer Women: From Skagway to White Mountain, soprano, clarinet and piano (2003)
Ein Feste Burg, organ (2003) [in Ausburg Organ Library: Autumn]
Darwall's 148th, organ (2003) [in Ausburg Organ Library: Autumn]
Swing Low, Sweet Chariot, organ (2003) [in Ausburg Organ Library: Autumn]
As We Gather - A Collection of Organ Music, organ (2003) [a companion to On Our Way Rejoicing, 2002]
Toccatas and Fugues on Hymns by European Women, organ (2003)
Toccatas and Fugues on Hymns from the Sacred Harp, organ (2003)
Arcadian Reverie, string orchestra (2004)
Veneration, orchestra (2004) [Symphony No. 1]
One of Ours: A Cather Symphony, orchestra (2004) [Symphony No. 2]
Cherish - Caress, soprano and cello (2004)
Four Dances for Two, oboe and violin (2004)
American Dialogues, flute and piano (2004)
Rustic Scene, viola and piano (2004)
Perambulations, trumpet and piano (2004)
Christmas for Organ (2004)
Hosanna, Lord Hosanna - Organ Settings for Lent and the Passion, organ (2004)
Making an American Citizen, string quartet, film score (2004) [for 1912 silent film] [arr. as Transformations, 2007]
Light Out of Darkness, female chorus and piano (2005)
Pleasure Flow, Tender Mist, soprano and piano (2005)
Fantasy and Fugue on Swing Low, Sweet Chariot. woodwind quintet (2005)
American Solstice, chamber ensemble (2005) [fl, cl, pf, 2 vn I, 2 vn II, 2 va, 2 vc, db]
A Morning Trumpet, organ and oboe (2005)
Forces at Play, chamber ensemble (2005) [fl/pic, cl, pf, vn, va, vc, perc]
Transformations, string quartet (2005)
Gloria! Organ Music for Advent and Christmas, organ (2005)
Fantasy and Fugue on a Hungarian Melody, organ (2005)
A House Divided, flute, clarinet, violin, viola, cello and piano, film score (2005) [for 1913 silent film]
How Men Propose, flute, clarinet, violin, viola, cello and piano, film score (2005) [for 1913 silent film]
I Know Who Holds Tomorrow, chorus (2006)
Come Back, Oh Christ, soprano and piano (2006)
Separetely Together: Synesthesia for chamber ensemble (2006)
Wade in the Water, organ (2006) [in Ausburg Organ Library: Baptism and Communion]
Judith Simon, flute, clarinet, bassoon, violin, viola, cello and piano, film score (2006) [for 1913 silent film]
Booth! The Story of Edwin Booth, musical (2002-07) [based on the life of Edwin Booth; 22 original songs, 6 songs added 2007]
Transformations, string orchestra (2007) [inspired by Alice Guy-Blaché’s film "Making an American Citizen", 1912]
Carondolet Caprice, chamber ensemble (2007)
Freeing the Caged Bird, woodwind quintet (2007)
Lilia's Polka, woodwind quintet (2007) [arr. of music by Kate Chopin] [arr. 2009 for string orchestra]
The Soul of Ra, string orchestra (2008)
Abigail, soprano, fl, clarinet/bass cl, bassoon, violin, viola, cello and harp (2008)
Emily, mezzo-soprano, trumpet and piano (2008)
Echoes from Tomorrow, chamber ensemble (2008)
Come Join the Dance: Folktunes and Spirituals, organ (2008)
Matrimony's Speed Limit, chamber ensemble (2008) [for 1912 silent film]
O Pioneers!, opera (2008-2009)
Demarest Suite, string orchestra (2009)
    - Echoes of Our Youth
    - Remember the Ladies Tango
    - Joyous Day, double string orchestra (or ripieno and concertino)
Freedom Suite, string quintet (2010)
Harriet’s Story, song suite (3 songs), soprano, violin and piano (2011)
Incantata, flute, clarinet, bassoon, horn, trumpet, violin, viola, cello and piano (2011) [inspired by Paul Muldoon’s  poem]
The Sounds of St. Louis – a Suite in One Movement, "low brass" ensemble (2011)


WORKS BY GENRE                                                            Harbach Links     ~ top of page ~
Dramatic/Theater
Daniel and the Beastly Night, musical (1991) [by Barbara Harbach and Jonathan Yordy]
A Page from the Christmas Story, youth musical (1991) [by Barbara Harbach and Jonathan Yordy]
Hester - The Scarlet Letter, musical (1993) [based on Hawthorne’s "The Scarlet Letter"; 32 original songs]
Tom and Sally - A Slave to Love, musical (1999) [based on the 38 yr relationship between Thomas Jefferson &
    Sally Hemings; 26 original songs]
Teaming the Shrew - A Mate for Kate, musical (2001) [based on Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew; 18 original songs]
Booth! The Story of Edwin Booth, musical (2002-07) [based on the life of Edwin Booth; 22 original songs, 6 songs added 2007]
O Pioneers!, opera (2008-2009)

Orchestra
Arcadian Reverie, string orchestra (2004)
Veneration, orchestra (2004) [Symphony No. 1]
One of Ours: A Cather Symphony, orchestra (2004) [Symphony No. 2]
Transformations, string orchestra (2007) [inspired by Alice Guy-Blaché’s film "Making an American Citizen", 1912]
The Soul of Ra, string orchestra (2008)
Lilia Polka, string orchestra (2007; arr. 2009) [originally for woodwind quintet; arr. of music by Kate Chopin]
Demarest Suite, string orchestra (2009)
    - Echoes of Our Youth
    - Remember the Ladies Tango
    - Joyous Day, double string orchestra (or ripieno and concertino)

Band
Emanations of the Sacred Harp, band (arr. 2005 from piece for cello and piano, 2001)

Soloist(s) w/Orchestra
Rhapsodie Jardine, oboe and string orchestra (1996)
Frontier Fancies, violin and orchestra (arr. 2006 from work for violin and piano, 1996)

Choral
Praise Him with the Trumpet, chorus and keyboard (1977)
The Christmas Babe, chorus and organ (1990)
Infant of Light, chorus and keyboard (1990)
Sing, Alleluia, chorus and keyboard (1990)
There's a City on a Hill, chorus and keyboard (1990)
We Proclaim the Wondrous Glories, chorus and organ (1990) [arr. of work by J. J. Mouret]
What is the World to Me, chorus and organ (1990) [arrangement]
Our Christmas Gift, chorus and keyboard (1990)
Sing! Christ is Born, chorus and keyboard (1990)
This Night in Bethlehem, chorus (1990)
Praise Him with the Trumpet, chorus and organ (1990)
He Will Care For Me, chorus and keyboard (1991)
Of Christ's Dark Cup, chorus and keyboard (1991)
As Sun Disperses the Mourning Clouds, chorus and keyboard (1991)
To Kindle Every Frozen Heart, unison voices and keyboard (1991)
Bathe My Soul, chorus (1991)
Rolled Away, chorus and keyboard (1991) [arr. of spiritual]
Luther Cantata, chorus and keyboard (1991)
Audible Light, chorus and keyboard (1992)
Love Has Opened Wide the Door, chorus and keyboard (1992)
Light Out of Darkness, female chorus and piano (2005)
I Know Who Holds Tomorrow, chorus (2006)

Chamber
Rhapsody Ritmico, brass quintet (1996; pub. 2004)
Four Dances for Two, oboe and violin (2004)
Fantasy and Fugue on Swing Low, Sweet Chariot. woodwind quintet (2005)
American Solstice, chamber ensemble (2005) [fl, cl, pf, 2 vn I, 2 vn II, 2 va, 2 vc, db]
A Morning Trumpet, organ and oboe (2005)
Forces at Play, chamber ensemble (2005) [fl/pic, cl, pf, vn, va, vc, perc]
Transformations, string quartet (2005)
Separetely Together: Synesthesia for chamber ensemble (2006)
Carondolet Caprice, chamber ensemble (2007)
Freeing the Caged Bird, woodwind quintet (2007)
Lilia's Polka, woodwind quintet (2007) [arr. of music by Kate Chopin]
Echoes from Tomorrow, chamber ensemble (2008)
Freedom Suite, string quintet (2010)
    - I. Harriet Scott – A Strong Woman
    - II. Eliza and Lizzie – Let My People Go
    - III. Freedom – At Last
Incantata, flute, clarinet, bassoon, horn, trumpet, violin, viola, cello and piano (2011) [inspired by Paul Muldoon’s  poem]
The Sounds of St. Louis – a Suite in One Movement, "low brass" ensemble (2011)

Solo Instrument
Daystream Dances, oboe and piano (1996)
Frontier Fancies, violin and piano (1996; arr. for violin and orchestra, 2007)
Emanations of the Sacred Harp, cello and piano (2001; pub. 2004)
American Dialogues, flute and piano (2004)
Rustic Scene, viola and piano (2004)
Perambulations, trumpet and piano (2004)

Organ
Fanfare and Toccata on "Lasst Uns Erfreuen", organ (1993)
A Suite of Holiday Trios, organ (1994)
Summershimmer, organ (1994)
Easter Toccata, organ (1996)
Toccatas and Fugues on American Hymns, organ (1996)
Fantasy and Fugue on "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot", organ (1997)
Toccata on "All Hail the Power" (Diadem), organ (1998)
French Suite on "Adeste Fideles", organ (1998)
Toccata and Variations on "The Lord is My Shepherd", organ (2000)
Suite on German Chorales, organ (2002)
On Our Way Rejoicing, organ (2002) [postludes, voluntaries and fantasies on sending hymns]
Azmon, organ (2002) [also in On Our Way Rejoicing, 2002]
Festival Flourish (Proclamation), organ (2002) [in Organ Music for the Seasons, Vol. 3]
Ein Feste Burg, organ (2003) [in Ausburg Organ Library: Autumn]
Darwall's 148th, organ (2003) [in Ausburg Organ Library: Autumn]
Swing Low, Sweet Chariot, organ (2003) [in Ausburg Organ Library: Autumn]
As We Gather - A Collection of Organ Music, organ (2003) [a companion to On Our Way Rejoicing, 2002]
Toccatas and Fugues on Hymns by European Women, organ (2003)
Toccatas and Fugues on Hymns from the Sacred Harp, organ (2003)
Christmas for Organ (2004)
Hosanna, Lord Hosanna - Organ Settings for Lent and the Passion, organ (2004)
Gloria! Organ Music for Advent and Christmas, organ (2005)
Fantasy and Fugue on a Hungarian Melody, organ (2005)
Wade in the Water, organ (2006) [in Ausburg Organ Library: Baptism and Communion]
Come Join the Dance: Folktunes and Spirituals, organ (2008)

Piano/Harpsichord
Spaindango, harpsichord (1992) [from Contemporary Composers for Harpsichord, Volume I]
Tres Danzas, harpsichord (1993) [from Contemporary Composers for Harpsichord, Volume II]
Phantasy and Phugue, piano (1995)
Suite Alternatives, piano (1995)
Fantasy and Fugue Frantique, harpsichord (1997; pub. 2004)

Vocal
Pioneer Women: From Skagway to White Mountain, soprano, clarinet and piano (2003)
Cherish - Caress, soprano and cello (2004)
Pleasure Flow, Tender Mist, soprano and piano (2005)
Come Back, Oh Christ, soprano and piano (2006)
Abigail, soprano, fl, clarinet/bass cl, bassoon, violin, viola, cello and harp (2008)
Emily, mezzo-soprano, trumpet and piano (2008)
Harriet’s Story, song suite (3 songs), soprano, violin and piano (2011)
    - Frontier Slave
    - No Reason to Learn
    - Sister Harriet Tubman

Incidental/Film
Making an American Citizen, string quartet, film score (2004) [for 1912 silent film] [arr. as Transformations, 2007]
A House Divided, flute, clarinet, violin, viola, cello and piano, film score (2005) [for 1913 silent film]
How Men Propose, flute, clarinet, violin, viola, cello and piano, film score (2005) [for 1913 silent film]
Judith Simon, flute, clarinet, bassoon, violin, viola, cello and piano, film score (2006) [for 1913 silent film]
Matrimony's Speed Limit, chamber ensemble (2008) [for 1912 silent film]


HARBACH  LINKS                                                            Works by Genre      ~ top of page ~
'Booth!' Debut Delivers a Dynamic Display (Cate Marquis, The Current Online)
Booth! The Musical (Transformations, jamesarts.com)
Composer Barbara Harbach Unveils New Opera O Pioneers (Srah Bryan Miller, St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
From Bach to Vivace Press: The Metamorphosis of Barbara Harbach (Cynthia Green Libby, IAWM Journal)
Harbach Awarded Honorary Doctorate (University of Wisconsin Stevens Point)
Harbach Concert Salutes Pioneer Women (Cate Marquis, The Current Online)
Local Composer Makes WNED's "Best Of 2008" List (Stefene Russell, SLM-Look/Listen)
Musical Advocate (Karen McCally, Rochester Review)
New Harbach Opera 'O Pioneers!' Brings Prairie Themes to Touhill (Bridget Ryder, The Current Online)
O Pioneers! @ Wikipedia
O Pioneers! - The Opera (Transformations, jamesarts.com)
Opera Created by UMSL Professor to Have World Premiere at Touhill (Bill Townsend, St. Louis Classical Music Examiner)
Orchestral Music of Barbara Harbach (Robert Myers, Classical Voice of New England)
Sympathetic Readings of Orchestral Music by Barbara Harbach (Music & Vision)
Two Recent Releases From Barbara Harbach (Jeff Perkins, Blogcritics.org)
Voice from the Whirlwind (Chris King, St. Louis Magazine)
World Premiere of O Pioneers, New Opera by Barbara Harbach ... (Sequenza21)

Composer's website

Harbach @ Wikipedia
Harbach @ Academic Dictionaries and Encyclopedias
Harbach @ Answers.com
Harbach @ Audiophile Audition
Harbach @ Augsburg Fortress
Harbach @ Bach Cantatas
Harbach @ The Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center
Harbach @ Classical Net
Harbach @ ClassicsToday
Harbach @ Dilettante Music
Harbach @ The Greater Escambia Coucil for the Arts
Harbach @ Jeffrey James Arts Consulting
Harbach @ The Milken Archive of American Jewish Music
Harbach @ MusicWeb International
Harbach @ Naxos
Harbach @ NetNewMusic
Harbach @ TheaterScene.net
Harbach @ University of Missouri-St. Louis
Harbach @ Vivace Press

Streaming Audio
Harbach @ Composer's website
Harbach @ Music & Vision    also     here
Harbach @ Rhapsody
Harbach @ St. Louis Public Radio/Interview

Recordings
Harbach @ ArkivMusic
Harbach @ ClassicsOnline
Harbach @ MSR Classics/Music of Barbara Harbach    Vol. 1    Vol. 2    Vol. 3    Vol. 4    Vol. 5

Harbach @ YouTube    -    and  . . .   Booth! The Musical    Part 1    Part 2    Part 3    Part 4

What's New with Barbara Harbach

“Harbach’s music astonished me for its heavy reliance on the lyric and the beautifully (and cogently) framed melodic line. I could listen to her music for hours.” American Record Guide ~ March / April 2008.

“Harbach has distinguished herself as one of the preeminent American composers of any generation.” All Music Guide ~ December 2007.

In June, 2009, her musical, Booth! was premiered at the Skirball Center for the Performing Arts in New York City where it won a competition at the Tisch School of the Arts.  O Pioneers! – an American Opera was premiered in October, 2009, at the University of Missorui-St. Louis in the Touhill Performing Arts Center. “OPioneers! is an excellent opera that was admirably performed by the lead players and a fine chorus.”  St. Louis Classical Music Examiner ~ October 2009.

Harbach has toured extensively as both concert organist and harpsichordist and her lively performances and recordings have captured the imagination of many American composers, and the body of work written for and dedicated to Harbach is substantial.  Musical America has called her “nothing short of brilliant,” and Gramophone has cited her as an “acknowledged interpreter – and, indeed, muse – of modern harpsichord music.”  She was host of the weekly television music series Palouse Performance seen throughout the Inland Northwest.

Currently professor of music at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, she holds academic degrees from Pennsylvania State University (B.A.), Yale University (M.M.A.), Musikhochschule (Konzertdiplom) in Frankfurt, Germany, and the Eastman School of Music (D.M.A.). In 2002, Harbach received an honorary doctorate in music, honoris causa, from Wilmington College, Ohio for her lifetime achievement as a composer, performer, editor and publisher.

Barbara Harbach initiated Women in the Arts-St. Louis, a celebration of the achievements of women creators. The over 800 events by various cultural organizations in the St. Louis region provided audiences with new and historical examples of the work of women writers, composers and artists.  In 2006 for her work Women in the Arts-St. Louis she was the recipient of the Arts Education Award from the Missouri Arts Council; the Missouri Citizen for the Arts Award; the Yellow rose Award from the Zonta International Club of St. Louis; the UM-St. Louis College of Fine Arts and Communication, Faculty Excellence Award; and in 2007 she was awarded the Hellenic Spirit Foundation Award.
 
Dr. Barbara Harbach, Professor of Music at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, has toured extensively as both concert organist and harpsichordist. She holds academic degrees from Pennsylvania State University (B.A.), Yale University (M.M.A.), Musikhochschule (Konzertdiplom) in Frankfurt, Germany, and the Eastman School of Music (D.M.A.). In 2002, Harbach received an honorary doctorate in music, honoris causa, from Wilmington College, Ohio for her lifetime achievement as a composer, performer, editor and publisher.

Her lively performances and recordings have captured the imagination of many American composers, and the body of work written for and dedicated to Harbach is substantial.  Musical America has called her “nothing short of brilliant,” and Gramophone has cited her as an “acknowledged interpreter – and, indeed, muse – of modern harpsichord music.” 

She was host of the weekly television music series Palouse Performance seen throughout the Inland Northwest.

See also Barbara Harbach's Curriculum Vitae

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

HOME           ABOUT           RESOURCES           COMPOSERS           PERFORMANCES           20/21 ENSEMBLE           CONTACT US