Samuel Barber (1910-1981) was only 28 years old when Arturo Toscanini premiered his Adagio for Strings in 1938 with the NBC Symphony Orchestra. He was an overnight success and became the most performed composer in the United States: His music is mostly unaffected by the modern tendencies of his time – he was out of step during the first half of the 20th century. Samuel Barber was as much a cosmopolitan as a romantic lyricist, and his writing unmistakably has its fixed stars: Bach, Brahms, and Fauré. We’ll explore his world, life, and music in this week’s program and finally face the inevitable question: A huge success at such a young age – a blessing or a curse?
Barber, Samuel
Playlist
Episode 1
Barber, Samuel: Adagio for Strings (excerpt)
New York Philharmonic/Bernstein
Romantic Favorites for Strings
CBS 38484
1:07
Barber, Samuel: Overture to the School for Scandal (excerpt)
New York Philharmonic/Bernstein
Samuel Barber – Thomas Schippers
Sony 62837
1:56
Barber, Samuel: Three Songs, Op. 2, “The Daisies”
Hampson, baritone; Browning, piano
Complete Songs of Samuel Barber (Secrets of The Old)
DG 435867-2
1:20
Barber, Samuel: Interlude No. 1, “Adagio for Jeanne”
John Browning, piano
The Complete Solo Piano Music
Musicmasters 67122
6:38
Barber, Samuel: Serenade for String Orchestra, Op. 1
Symphony of the Air/Golschmann
The Music of Samuel Barber
Van 1649
8:48
Barber, Samuel: “Dover Beach”
Curtis String Quartet; Barber, baritone
Barber: Premiere Recordings
Pearl 0049
7:50
Barber, Samuel: Overture to the School for Scandal
NY Philharmonic/Schippers
Samuel Barber – Thomas Schippers
Sony 62837
7:32
Barber, Samuel: Sonata for Cello & Piano, Op. 6
II. III.
Andrés Díaz, violoncello; Sanders, piano
American Visions
Dorian 90241
10:47
Barber, Samuel: Three Songs, Op. 2 “Bessie Bobtail”
Hampson baritone; Browning, Piano
Complete Songs Of Samuel Barber (Secrets Of The Old)
DG 435867-2
2:45
Episode 2
Barber, Samuel: Music for a Scene from Shelley
Symphony of the Air/Golschmann
The Music of Samuel Barber
Van 1649
8:52
Barber, Samuel: Three Songs, Op. 10 “I Hear an Army”
Thomas Hampson, baritone; John Browning, piano
Complete Songs of Samuel Barber (Secrets of The Old)
DG 435867-2
2:40
Barber, Samuel: String Quartet in B Minor, Op. 11
Emerson String Quartet
American Originals (String Quartets)
DG 435864
16:33
Barber, Samuel: Symphony No. 1, Op. 9
New York Philharmonic/Walter
Barber: Premiere Recordings
Pearl 49
17:45
Barber, Samuel: Op. 13 No. 1 “A Nun Takes the Veil”
Marilyn Horne, mezzo soprano; Martin Katz, piano
I Will Breathe a Mountain – Songs of Barber, Bernstein & Bolcom
RCA 68771
1:42
Barber, Samuel: String Quartet, Op. 11
Finale (excerpt)
Emerson String Quartet
American Originals (String Quartets)
DG 435864
1:46
Episode 3
Barber, Samuel: Overture to the School for Scandal (excerpt)
New York Philharmonic/Schippers
Samuel Barber – Thomas Schippers
Sony 62837
1:02
Barber, Samuel: First Essay for Orchestra, Op. 12
Royal Scottish Nat’l Orchestra/Alsop
BARBER, S.: Orchestral Works, Vol. 1 – Symphonies Nos. 1 and 2 / First Essay for Orchestra
Naxos 8.559024
8:12
Barber, Samuel: Four Songs, Op. 13
“Sure on This Shining Night”
Studer, soprano; Browning, piano
Secrets of the Old – Complete Songs
DG 338002
2:22
Barber, Samuel: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, Op. 14, I, II
St. Paul Chamber Orchestra/Wolff
Hilary Hahn, violin
Barber & Meyer: Violin Concertos
Sony 89029
19:36
Barber, Samuel: “A Stopwatch and an Ordinance Map”, Op. 15
Symphony of the Air/Golschmann; Robert DeCormier Singers
The Music of Samuel Barber
Van 1649
5:54
Barber, Samuel: “A Stopwatch and an Ordinance Map”, Op. 15 (excerpt)
Symphony of the Air/Golschmann; Robert DeCormier Singers
The Music of Samuel Barber
Van 1649
:34
Barber, Samuel: Capricorn Concerto, Op. 21, III
St. Louis Symphony/Slatkin; Bowman, oboe; Slaughter, trumpet; Berg, flute
Barber: Violin Concerto; Cello Concerto; Capricorn Concerto
RCA 68283
4:47
Barber, Samuel: Excursions, Op. 20, III. IV.
Browning, piano
The Complete Solo Piano Music
Musicmasters 67122
5:56
Barber, Samuel: Excursions, Op. 20, III. IV. (excerpt)
Browning, piano
The Complete Solo Piano Music
Musicmasters 67122
1:50
Episode 4
Barber, Samuel: Knoxville, Summer of 1915
Orchestra of St. Luke’s/Previn; Battle, soprano
Honey and Rue
DG 437787
14:50
Barber, Samuel: “Medea’s Meditation and Dance of Vengeance,” Op. 23a
St. Louis Symphony/Slatkin
Adagio F for Strings / Violin Concerto / Orchestral & Chamber Works
EMI 86561-2
13:05
Barber, Samuel: Summer Music for Wind Quintet
New York Philharmonic Quintet
The Best Of The New York Woodwind Quintet, Volume 1
Boston Skyline 137
11:35
Barber, Samuel: “A Hand of Bridge,” Op. 35 (excerpt)
Symphony of the Air/Golschmann; Soloists
The Music of Samuel Barber
Van 1649
5:54
Barber, Samuel: Souvenirs, Op. 28, VI. IV.
Browning and Slatkin, Pianos
Symphony No. 1 / Piano Concerto
RCA 60732
2:09
Barber, Samuel: Souvenirs, Op. 28, VI. IV.
Browning and Slatkin, pianos
Symphony No. 1 / Piano Concerto
RCA 60732
1:51
Episode 5
Barber, Samuel: Vanessa, Op. 32; “Must the Winter Come so Soon?”
Met Opera Orchestra/Mitropoulis; Steber, soprano
Barber: Vanessa
RCA 7899
2:33
Barber, Samuel: Vanessa, Op. 32 “Intermezzo”
Columbia Symphony Orchestra/Schippers
Samuel Barber / Thomas Schippers
Sony 62837
4:07
Barber, Samuel: Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 1. Op. 38, I.
St. Louis Symphony Orchestra/Slatkin; John Browning, piano
Symphony No. 1 / Piano Concerto
RCA 60732
14:29
Barber, Samuel: Canzone for Flute and Piano, Op. 38a
Baxtresser, flute; Margalit, piano
Adagio For Strings / Violin Concerto / Orchestral & Chamber Works
EMI 86561
4:26
Barber, Samuel: “Fadograph of a Yestern Scene,” Op. 44
Royal Scottish Nat’l Orchestra/Alsop
BARBER: Capricorn Concerto / A Hand of Bridge / Canzonetta / Intermezzo
Naxos 8.559135
9:37
Barber, Samuel: Canzonetta for Oboe and Strings
Royal Scottish Nat’l Orch/Alsop; Rancourt, oboe
BARBER: Capricorn Concerto / A Hand of Bridge / Canzonetta / Intermezzo
Naxos 8.559135
8:45
Barber, Samuel: Hermit Songs, Op. 29; “Promiscuity” & “The Monk and his Cat”
Price, soprano; Barber, piano
Leontyne Price Sings Barber
RCA 61983
2:56
Barber, Samuel: Souvenirs, Op. 28, Waltz (excerpt)
Slatkin and Browning, pianos
Symphony No. 1 / Piano Concerto
RCA 60732-2
1:57
Barber, Samuel: Canzone for Flute and Piano, Op. 38a (excerpt)
Baxtresser, flute; Margalit, piano
Adagio For Strings/Violin Concerto/ Orchestral and Chamber Works
EMI 86561
1:14
