Samuel Barber (1910-1981)

Composer of the Week explores the life and music of Samuel
Barber, who is only considered one of the most expressive
representatives of the Romantic trend in 20th century classical
music, as well as one of the most frequently performed American
composers. His most famous score is his early Adagio for Strings;
some of his other breakthrough include his Piano Sonata, and the
opera Vanessa.


Barber began studying piano from the age of six and started to
compose from the age of seven. He went on to take composition
lessons with Rosario Scalero at the Curtis Institute of Music
and, from this point, he never looked back, quickly becoming one
of America’s most famous composers. He wrote in many different
genres, including chamber, vocal, orchestral and works for the
stage, and often composed in response to significant and highly
desirable commissions. He enjoyed close collaboration with the
performers he wrote for, shaping his music to their individual
styles and capabilities. Only towards the end of his life, when
he was struggling with depression, alcoholism and also cancer,
did his creative output slow.


Music Featured:


Overture to The School for Scandal Dover Beach, Op 3 Cello
Sonata, Op 6 (Adagio - Presto) Sure on this shining night, Op 13
No 3 Nocturne, Op 13 No 4 Adagio for Strings, Op 11 Violin
Concerto, Op 14 (excerpt) Monks and Raisins, Op 18 No 2 Commando
March Cello Concerto, Op 22 (Andante sostenuto) Medea Orchestral
Suite, Op 23 (excerpt) Knoxville: Summer of 1915, Op 24 Piano
Sonata, Op 26 (excerpt) Souvenirs, Op 28 (Galop) At St Patrick’s
Purgatory, Op 29 No 1 (Hermit Songs) The Monk and his Cat, Op 29
No 8 (Hermit Songs) Meditation and Dance of Vengeance, Op 23a
Summer Music, Op 31 Vanessa, Op 32 (excerpt) Nocturne, Op 33
(Homage to John Field) My Lizard, Op 41 No 2 (Despite and Still)
Canzone, Op 38a Piano Concerto, Op 38 (Allegro appassionato)
Night Flight, Op 19a Antony and Cleopatra, Op 40 (Give Me Some
Music) Agnus Dei, Op 11 In the Wilderness, Op 41 No 3 (Despite
and Still) Third Essay, Op 47 A Green Lowland of Pianos, Op 45 No
2 Toccata festiva, Op 36 The Lovers, Op 43 (excerpt)


Ballade, Op 46 Canzonetta, Op 48


Presented by Donald Macleod Produced by Luke Whitlock for BBC
Audio in Wales


For full track listings, including artist and recording details,
and to listen to the pieces featured in full (for 30 days after
broadcast) head to the series page for Samuel Barber (1910-1981)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001nnr8


And you can delve into the A-Z of all the composers we’ve
featured on Composer of the Week here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3cjHdZlXwL7W41XGB77X3S0/composers-a-to-z