The Barber Chair

[vandermolen]

Thanks for this, Jeffrey. I've only listened to the 2nd Symphony in the Alsop recording on Naxos, and I didn't have a very positive reaction to it. I'll be sure to listen to the Järvi recording at some juncture. At least on first listening, the 2nd Symphony seems closer to the hard-edged style of William Schuman than to Barber's own lyrical, neo-Romanic idiom, interestingly enough. I do like the angry, percussive climax of the first movement.

That's true Kyle although it has a very poetic slow movement as well, which Barber thought highly enough of, after withdrawing the symphony, to make into a separate stand-alone work 'Night Flight' after the book by Saint-Exupery, who happens to be one of my favourite authors. There's a fine recording of Barber's 'Night Flight' conducted by the sadly missed David Measham, who made a number of interesting recordings (Miaskovsky, Kabalevsky, Goossens) on the old Unicorn label.

[kyjo]

My university's orchestra is putting on a wonderful program this weekend which includes three Barber works - the Violin Concerto, Overture to The School for Scandal, and the Second Essay (along with Respighi's Feste Romane and the world premiere of a work by Roberto Sierra). I've always loved Barber's music, but having the opportunity to play these three masterful works has taken my admiration for it to another level. In particular, I've found the Second Essay to be a really satisfying, dramatic, ingenious, and ultimately redemptive work.

[vandermolen]

My university's orchestra is putting on a wonderful program this weekend which includes three Barber works - the Violin Concerto, Overture to The School for Scandal, and the Second Essay (along with Respighi's Feste Romane and the world premiere of a work by Roberto Sierra). I've always loved Barber's music, but having the opportunity to play these three masterful works has taken my admiration for it to another level. In particular, I've found the Second Essay to be a really satisfying, dramatic, ingenious, and ultimately redemptive work.

How exciting!
The Second Essay for Orchestra, despite its rather 'academic' title is perhaps my favourite work by Barber (although Symphony 1 and 2 and Knoxville rank very highly as well). I think that the conclusion of the Second Essay is even more effective than the conclusion of Roy Haris's legendary Third Symphony - it is indeed a 'redemptive' ending.

I hope that the concert goes well Kyle.

[Madiel]

My university's orchestra is putting on a wonderful program this weekend which includes three Barber works - the Violin Concerto, Overture to The School for Scandal, and the Second Essay (along with Respighi's Feste Romane and the world premiere of a work by Roberto Sierra). I've always loved Barber's music, but having the opportunity to play these three masterful works has taken my admiration for it to another level. In particular, I've found the Second Essay to be a really satisfying, dramatic, ingenious, and ultimately redemptive work.

Nice.

What instrument do you play?

[Christo]

In particular, I've found the Second Essay to be a really satisfying, dramatic, ingenious, and ultimately redemptive work.

Amen. First heard in on the radio when I was 15 - David Measham conducting, I guess. It was during a hot afternoon in August, ending with a thunderstorm. Recorded it, played it again and fell under its spell forever.

[vandermolen]

Amen. First heard in on the radio when I was 15 - David Measham conducting, I guess. It was during a hot afternoon in August, ending with a thunderstorm. Recorded it, played it again and fell under its spell forever.

And that David Measham performance is very fine as was his recording of Miaskovsky's poetic and eloquent 21st Symphony and Goossens Symphony 1 ( never released on CD  )

[kyjo]

How exciting!
The Second Essay for Orchestra, despite its rather 'academic' title is perhaps my favourite work by Barber (although Symphony 1 and 2 and Knoxville rank very highly as well). I think that the conclusion of the Second Essay is even more effective than the conclusion of Roy Haris's legendary Third Symphony - it is indeed a 'redemptive' ending.

I hope that the concert goes well Kyle.

Thanks, Jeffrey! Just played the concert earlier tonight and it was a wonderful experience.

[kyjo]

Nice.

What instrument do you play?

Cello! 

[Maestro267]

On a whim, I've decided to listen to all three Essays for Orchestra together.

[kyjo]

On a whim, I've decided to listen to all three Essays for Orchestra together.

All three are superb works and among Barber's finest achievements IMO.

[vandermolen]

All three are superb works and among Barber's finest achievements IMO.

No.2 in particular is a magnificent work - that ending is very special and very moving.

[Brian]

Conversation with the girlfriend last night as I played Previn's recording of "Excursions":

"This is awful. What is this?"

"American piano music."

"It's terrible. Who is it by?"

"Samuel Barber."

"Okay, for future reference, I hate everything by Barber."

"I think you'll like the violin concerto if we ever see it live."

"...uhhhh... well, just so you know, you can't play this CD when I'm in the house."

[Mirror Image]

Conversation with the girlfriend last night as I played Previn's recording of "Excursions":

"This is awful. What is this?"

"American piano music."

"It's terrible. Who is it by?"

"Samuel Barber."

"Okay, for future reference, I hate everything by Barber."

"I think you'll like the violin concerto if we ever see it live."

"...uhhhh... well, just so you know, you can't play this CD when I'm in the house."

Your girlfriend may rule what's played on the stereo (or wherever), but Excursions is a fine piece by Barber. One work you should never play her is Ives' Concord Sonata. She may end up leaving you. (FYI, I love Ives' Concord Sonata as well.)

[Ghost of Baron Scarpia]

Conversation with the girlfriend last night as I played Previn's recording of "Excursions":

"This is awful. What is this?"

"American piano music."

"It's terrible. Who is it by?"

"Samuel Barber."

"Okay, for future reference, I hate everything by Barber."

"I think you'll like the violin concerto if we ever see it live."

"...uhhhh... well, just so you know, you can't play this CD when I'm in the house."

This is why headphones were invented.

[springrite]

Conversation with the girlfriend last night as I played Previn's recording of "Excursions":

"This is awful. What is this?"

"American piano music."

"It's terrible. Who is it by?"

"Samuel Barber."

"Okay, for future reference, I hate everything by Barber."

"I think you'll like the violin concerto if we ever see it live."

"...uhhhh... well, just so you know, you can't play this CD when I'm in the house."

When I wanted to dump a girlfriend but did not want to have the guilt of being the person to terminate the relationship, I'd play some music that she'd hate. It worked several times.

[SymphonicAddict]

A cool photo of these composers:

[vandermolen]

A cool photo of these composers:

Is that Menotti on the far right? If so I've recently been enjoying his 'Apocalypse'.

[SymphonicAddict]

Is that Menotti on the far right? If so I've recently been enjoying his 'Apocalypse'.

Yes, he is. Apocalypse is the only work I know by him and I like it too.

[vandermolen]

Yes, he is. Apocalypse is the only work I know by him and I like it too.

Thanks Cesar.

[vers la flamme]

Bump for Sam Barber, a great composer...?

I am getting into his music slowly, here and there. I have not heard many of his pieces, but those I have heard I do like much. The Piano Concerto is probably my favorite of his works, the slow movement is amazing. I also quite like the first symphony, which I heard he modeled after Sibelius' 7th, and I can see it (there is something of Sibelius in almost every American and English composer who came after him). I just heard and enjoyed the tone poem Medea's Meditation and Dance of Vengeance. And then I really like Excursions as played by Vladimir Horowitz, though I need to hear it in more modern sound. The works I am most curious to hear next are the violin concerto, Knoxville, and the string quartet(s?) – I think he is a very talented and perhaps underlooked composer. There is something of Ravel in him. He really understands the value of beauty and purity in music. He is one of few American composers that I have a serious interest in. I'm looking to up that number, being that I am an American myself, but I will start where I already have some footing.

Anyway, recommendations for good recordings of the violin concerto and Knoxville would be appreciated. Has anyone been listening to Sam Barber lately?