Samuel Barber

Synopsis

American composer

• 9 Mar 1910, born in West Chester, PA
• 1922 or 1923, West Chester, PA, became organist at local church
• 1936, Europe, composed his now-famous Adagio for Strings
• 1939-42, Philadelphia, taught composition at Curtis Institute
• 23 Jan 1981, died in New York, NY

His early musical styles did not embrace the experimental techniques enveloping the 20th century. He chose to write expressively, lyrically, using 19th century tonality and harmonics, as evidenced in his Adagio for Strings. Later modernism increased, beginning in the 1940's. Some influence of Stravinsky can also be seen in his later music. A very important American composer who also composed a few pieces for organ.

His creative period for organ began in the 1920's, and lasted, with breaks, into the 1960's.

For details, see the Wikipedia article on Samuel Barber.

List of Organ Works

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Opus	Title	Year
Op. 34	Wondrous Love, variations on a shape-note hymn	1958
Op. 36	Toccata Festiva, for organ and orchestra	1960
Op. 37	Chorale Prelude on Silent Night (from Die Natali)	1960
Op. ??	To Longwood Gardens	1925 (unpub.)
Op. ??	Prelude and Fugue	1927 (unpub.)
Op. ??	Chorale for a New Organ	1936

A few choral works, with organ accompaniment, were also published.

Background and General Perspectives on Performing These Organ Works

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Registration and Organs

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See the footnote in the "Notes" section at the bottom of the page

Fingering and Pedaling

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Articulation and Phrasing

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Ornamentation

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Tempo and Meter

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Scores and Editions

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Recordings

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Free Online

• Toccata Festiva as performed by Scott Dettra on YouTube
• Adagio for Strings as performed by Felix Hell on YouTube

Pay to Listen

• Toccata festiva as performed by Dame Gillian Weir and the English Chamber Orchestra, under direction of Raymond Leppard, on NAXOS
• Prelude and Fugue in B Minor as performed by Iain Quinn on NAXOS
• Wondrous Love as performed by Iain Quinn on NAXOS
• Die natali, chorale prelude on Silent Night as performed by Karel Paukert on NAXOS
• Adagio for Strings as performed by Scott Dettra on NAXOS

Other Resources

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Notes

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