Classical

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Samuel Barber

Top Songs By Samuel Barber

ADAGIO FOR STRINGSSamuel Barber & François Myrand

Listen to Adagio for Strings by Samuel Barber, Xavier Pardo Sabartés & Jove Simfònica Orpheus, see lyrics, music video & more!

Adagio for StringsSamuel Barber, Xavier Pardo Sabartés & Jove Simfònica Orpheus

Listen to Barber: Adagio for Strings - slowed + reverb by Classical Slowed + Reverb & Samuel Barber, see lyrics, music video & more!

Barber: Adagio for Strings - slowed + reverbClassical Slowed + Reverb & Samuel Barber

Listen to Hermit Songs, Op. 29: Saint Ita's Vision by Leontyne Price & Samuel Barber, see lyrics, music video & more!

Hermit Songs, Op. 29: Saint Ita's VisionLeontyne Price & Samuel Barber

Listen to Nuvoletta, Op. 25 by Leontyne Price & Samuel Barber, see lyrics, music video & more!

Nuvoletta, Op. 25Leontyne Price & Samuel Barber

Listen to Hermit Songs, Op. 29: The Monk and His Cat by Leontyne Price & Samuel Barber, see lyrics, music video & more!

Hermit Songs, Op. 29: The Monk and His CatLeontyne Price & Samuel Barber

Listen to Hermit Songs, Op. 29: Church Bell at Night by Leontyne Price & Samuel Barber, see lyrics, music video & more!

Hermit Songs, Op. 29: Church Bell at NightLeontyne Price & Samuel Barber

Listen to Hermit Songs, Op. 29: The Crucifixion by Leontyne Price & Samuel Barber, see lyrics, music video & more!

Hermit Songs, Op. 29: The CrucifixionLeontyne Price & Samuel Barber

Listen to Hermit Songs, Op. 29: Sea-Snatch by Leontyne Price & Samuel Barber, see lyrics, music video & more!

Hermit Songs, Op. 29: Sea-SnatchLeontyne Price & Samuel Barber

Listen to Hermit Songs, Op. 29: The Praises of God by Leontyne Price & Samuel Barber, see lyrics, music video & more!

Hermit Songs, Op. 29: The Praises of GodLeontyne Price & Samuel Barber

Latest Release

Listen to Adagio for Strings - Single by Samuel Barber, Xavier Pardo Sabartés & Jove Simfònica Orpheus

ALBUMAdagio for Strings - SingleSamuel Barber, Xavier Pardo Sabartés & Jove Simfònica Orpheus

More albums from Samuel Barber

Listen to Cabinet of Curiosities by Delirium Musicum & Étienne Gara

ALBUMCabinet of CuriositiesDelirium Musicum & Étienne Gara

Listen to The World Feels Dusty by Dame Sarah Connolly & Joseph Middleton

ALBUMThe World Feels DustyDame Sarah Connolly & Joseph Middleton

ALBUMTime & SpaceZhexiang Li

Listen to For Dieter: Hommage à Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau by Benjamin Appl & James Baillieu

ALBUMFor Dieter: Hommage à Dietrich Fischer-DieskauBenjamin Appl & James Baillieu

Listen to Ginastera, Griffes & Barber: Piano Sonatas by Jeffrey Chappell

ALBUMGinastera, Griffes & Barber: Piano SonatasJeffrey Chappell

Listen to Midsummer Light by Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Michael Poll & Jack Liebeck

ALBUMMidsummer LightRoyal Philharmonic Orchestra, Michael Poll & Jack Liebeck

Listen to Souvenir by William Brown Percussion & Ghadeer Abaido

ALBUMSouvenirWilliam Brown Percussion & Ghadeer Abaido

ALBUMSouvenirsnagel - patkolo piano duo

Listen to Sibelius & Barber: Violin Concertos by Renaud Capuçon, Daniel Harding & Orchestre de la Suisse Romande

ALBUMSibelius & Barber: Violin ConcertosRenaud Capuçon, Daniel Harding & Orchestre de la Suisse Romande

ALBUMClair De Lune, Moonlight Sonata and moreClaire De Lune

Listen to Barber: Hermit Songs, Op. 29 by Esther Valentin-Fieguth & Anastasia Grishutina

ALBUMBarber: Hermit Songs, Op. 29Esther Valentin-Fieguth & Anastasia Grishutina

Listen to Sonata Spectrum by Rio Takahashi

ALBUMSonata SpectrumRio Takahashi

Listen to Weaving Colors by Mari Ohki & Tomonori Sato

ALBUMWeaving ColorsMari Ohki & Tomonori Sato

Listen to Jeff Beal: The Salvage Men by Eric Ericson Chamber Choir & Fredrik Malmberg

ALBUMJeff Beal: The Salvage MenEric Ericson Chamber Choir & Fredrik Malmberg

Listen to Pointillé, Vol. 2 by Quintette Pointillé

ALBUMPointillé, Vol. 2Quintette Pointillé

Listen to Made in USA: Gershwin, Beach & Barber by Claire Huangci

ALBUMMade in USA: Gershwin, Beach & BarberClaire Huangci

Listen to Somebody Loves Me by Yuko Nakamichi

ALBUMSomebody Loves MeYuko Nakamichi

Listen to Barber: Concerto for Violin & Orchestra, Op. 14 - Bernstein: Serenade from Plato's Symposium by Sonig Tchakerian, Orchestra di Padova e del Veneto & Zsolt Hamar

ALBUMBarber: Concerto for Violin & Orchestra, Op. 14 - Bernstein: Serenade from Plato's SymposiumSonig Tchakerian, Orchestra di Padova e del Veneto & Zsolt Hamar

Listen to In the Twilight (The Royal Academy of Music Bicentenary Series) by Cassandra Wright & Harry Rylance

ALBUMIn the Twilight (The Royal Academy of Music Bicentenary Series)Cassandra Wright & Harry Rylance

Listen to Romanza: Music for Strings by Sibelius, Britten, Barber & Pärt by Orchestra Orfeo & Domenico Famà

ALBUMRomanza: Music for Strings by Sibelius, Britten, Barber & PärtOrchestra Orfeo & Domenico Famà

Listen to Brilliant Virtuoso by Yoshihiro Kondo

ALBUMBrilliant VirtuosoYoshihiro Kondo

ALBUMHomeMiró Quartet

ALBUMSouvenirsOnyx Klavierduo

Listen to American Excursions by Alexander Crosett

ALBUMAmerican ExcursionsAlexander Crosett

Listen to Summer Dreams: American Piano Duets by Beach, MacDowell & Barber by Emma Abbate & Julian Perkins

ALBUMSummer Dreams: American Piano Duets by Beach, MacDowell & BarberEmma Abbate & Julian Perkins

Listen to Barber: Piano Works by Mira Armij Gill

ALBUMBarber: Piano WorksMira Armij Gill

Listen to Amérique(s) by Sergei Redkin, Mathieu Herzog & Appassionato

ALBUMAmérique(s)Sergei Redkin, Mathieu Herzog & Appassionato

Listen to Suite Nothings by Emanuela Friscioni & Antonio Pompa-Baldi

ALBUMSuite NothingsEmanuela Friscioni & Antonio Pompa-Baldi

Listen to But I Like to Sing... by Carolyn Sampson & Joseph Middleton

ALBUMBut I Like to Sing...Carolyn Sampson & Joseph Middleton

Listen to American Landscapes by Karen Becker & Theresa Bogard

ALBUMAmerican LandscapesKaren Becker & Theresa Bogard

Listen to We Have Tomorrow by Eric Ferring, Madeline Slettedahl & Quatuor Agate

ALBUMWe Have TomorrowEric Ferring, Madeline Slettedahl & Quatuor Agate

Listen to Unspoken by The Julius Quartet

ALBUMUnspokenThe Julius Quartet

Listen to Souvenirs by Pascal Rogé & Barbara Binet

ALBUMSouvenirsPascal Rogé & Barbara Binet

ALBUMAn American RhapsodyCalefax Reed Quintet

Listen to Debussy, Prokofiev, Barber by Konstantin Emelyanov

ALBUMDebussy, Prokofiev, BarberKonstantin Emelyanov

Listen to Barber: Complete Songs by Filippo Farinelli, Leilah Dione Ezra, Mauro Borgioni & Elisabetta Lombardi

ALBUMBarber: Complete SongsFilippo Farinelli, Leilah Dione Ezra, Mauro Borgioni & Elisabetta Lombardi

Listen to Dedication by Steven Mercurio & Czech National Symphony Orchestra

ALBUMDedicationSteven Mercurio & Czech National Symphony Orchestra

Listen to Piano Music by Lodewijk Crommelin

ALBUMPiano MusicLodewijk Crommelin

Listen to De mille feux by Quatuor Andara

ALBUMDe mille feuxQuatuor Andara

ALBUMINTERPLAYNicholas Ho

Listen to A Different Kind of B-Line by Thomas Hecht

ALBUMA Different Kind of B-LineThomas Hecht

Listen to Chamber Music Conference: Faculty Concert Recordings, 1956-2019, Vol. 5 by Chamber Music Conference Faculty

ALBUMChamber Music Conference: Faculty Concert Recordings, 1956-2019, Vol. 5Chamber Music Conference Faculty

Listen to Ohio OMEA Conference 2022 All-State Orchestra (Live) by Mark Powell

ALBUMOhio OMEA Conference 2022 All-State Orchestra (Live)Mark Powell

Listen to Miroirs de la musique by Luca Chiandotto

ALBUMMiroirs de la musiqueLuca Chiandotto

Listen to Lux Aeterna by University of South Dakota Chamber Singers & David Holdhusen

ALBUMLux AeternaUniversity of South Dakota Chamber Singers & David Holdhusen

Listen to Muse by Sheku Kanneh-Mason & Isata Kanneh-Mason

ALBUMMuseSheku Kanneh-Mason & Isata Kanneh-Mason

ALBUMWhy Do the NationsStephen Powell

Listen to Barber, Borodin, Debussy, Ravel by DuoKeira Piano Duo

ALBUMBarber, Borodin, Debussy, RavelDuoKeira Piano Duo

Listen to Barber & Ives: String Quartets by Escher String Quartet

ALBUMBarber & Ives: String QuartetsEscher String Quartet

Listen to Marian Anderson at Constitution Hall: Farewell Recital (Live and Unedited) [2021 Remastered Version] by Marian Anderson & Franz Rupp

ALBUMMarian Anderson at Constitution Hall: Farewell Recital (Live and Unedited) [2021 Remastered Version]Marian Anderson & Franz Rupp

Listen to Many-Sided Music, Vol. 2: Ariel & Other Poems by Aeolus Quartet

ALBUMMany-Sided Music, Vol. 2: Ariel & Other PoemsAeolus Quartet

Listen to Barber & Prokofiev: Piano Sonatas by Willis Delony

ALBUMBarber & Prokofiev: Piano SonatasWillis Delony

Listen to American Quintets by Kaleidoscope Chamber Collective & Matthew Rose

ALBUMAmerican QuintetsKaleidoscope Chamber Collective & Matthew Rose

Listen to Barber, Sibelius & Scriabin: One Movement Symphonies by Kansas City Symphony & Michael Stern

ALBUMBarber, Sibelius & Scriabin: One Movement SymphoniesKansas City Symphony & Michael Stern

ALBUMBernstein, Barber, Crawford & Ives: AmericansJames Gaffigan, Luzerner Sinfonieorchester & Paul Jacobs

Listen to A Musical Zoo by Ashley Riches & Joseph Middleton

ALBUMA Musical ZooAshley Riches & Joseph Middleton

Listen to Cenotaph by West Chester University Wind Ensemble & Andrew Yozviak

ALBUMCenotaphWest Chester University Wind Ensemble & Andrew Yozviak

Listen to American Ivory by Richard Fountain

ALBUMAmerican IvoryRichard Fountain

Listen to From the New World by Hansjörg Albrecht

ALBUMFrom the New WorldHansjörg Albrecht

Listen to Classic: The Music Videos by HAUSER & London Symphony Orchestra

ALBUMClassic: The Music VideosHAUSER & London Symphony Orchestra

Listen to Rachmaninoff & Barber: Cello Sonatas by Jonah Kim & Sean Kennard

ALBUMRachmaninoff & Barber: Cello SonatasJonah Kim & Sean Kennard

Listen to That's the Berries! New York Nights by Jacqueline Leung

ALBUMThat's the Berries! New York NightsJacqueline Leung

Listen to American Piano Music by Lisa Caliri

ALBUMAmerican Piano MusicLisa Caliri

Listen to Solitude by James Gilchrist & Anna Tilbrook

ALBUMSolitudeJames Gilchrist & Anna Tilbrook

ALBUMPiano WorksYeseul Moon & Hardy Rittner

Listen to Hermit Songs for a Time of Solitude by Rachel Evangeline Barham & Andrew Earle Simpson

ALBUMHermit Songs for a Time of SolitudeRachel Evangeline Barham & Andrew Earle Simpson

Listen to L'amour, la mort, la mer by Patricia Petibon

ALBUML'amour, la mort, la merPatricia Petibon

ALBUMClassicHAUSER

Listen to Beethoven, Britten & Barber by Boris Kusnezow & Liya Petrova

ALBUMBeethoven, Britten & BarberBoris Kusnezow & Liya Petrova

ALBUMWalking on WavesThe Choir of Trinity College, Melbourne & Christopher Watson

Listen to Tchaikovsky & Barber: Violin Concertos by Johan Dalene, Norrköping Symphony Orchestra & Daniel Blendulf

ALBUMTchaikovsky & Barber: Violin ConcertosJohan Dalene, Norrköping Symphony Orchestra & Daniel Blendulf

Listen to Dvorák: Symphony No. 8, Op. 88 & Slavonic Dance, Op. 46, No. 1 - Barber: Symphony No. 1, Op. 9 (Remastered) by Bruno Walter & New York Philharmonic

ALBUMDvorák: Symphony No. 8, Op. 88 & Slavonic Dance, Op. 46, No. 1 - Barber: Symphony No. 1, Op. 9 (Remastered)Bruno Walter & New York Philharmonic

Listen to MUSIC FOR EMOTIONS by Josep Vicent & ADDA Simfònica

ALBUMMUSIC FOR EMOTIONSJosep Vicent & ADDA Simfònica

Listen to Trip to America by German Brass

ALBUMTrip to AmericaGerman Brass

Listen to Sommernachtskonzert 2019 / Summer Night Concert 2019 (Visual Album) by Gustavo Dudamel & Vienna Philharmonic

ALBUMSommernachtskonzert 2019 / Summer Night Concert 2019 (Visual Album)Gustavo Dudamel & Vienna Philharmonic

Listen to Sommernachtskonzert 2019 / Summer Night Concert 2019 by Gustavo Dudamel & Vienna Philharmonic

ALBUMSommernachtskonzert 2019 / Summer Night Concert 2019Gustavo Dudamel & Vienna Philharmonic

ALBUMAn American Song AlbumMelody Moore & Bradley Moore

Listen to American Rapture by Yolanda Kondonassis, The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra & Ward Stare

ALBUMAmerican RaptureYolanda Kondonassis, The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra & Ward Stare

Listen to Barber: Hermit Songs & Other Songs by Bonita Glenn & Konrad Richter

ALBUMBarber: Hermit Songs & Other SongsBonita Glenn & Konrad Richter

Listen to American Classics: Barber & Copland by Sean Kennard

ALBUMAmerican Classics: Barber & CoplandSean Kennard

Listen to American Romantics by American String Quartet

ALBUMAmerican RomanticsAmerican String Quartet

ALBUMAspects of AmericaCarlos Kalmar & Oregon Symphony

Listen to Vegh and His Quartet by Sándor Végh & Végh Quartet

ALBUMVegh and His QuartetSándor Végh & Végh Quartet

Listen to Quinteto Zephyros by Quinteto Zephyros

ALBUMQuinteto ZephyrosQuinteto Zephyros

Listen to Lifetime by Eleonora Spina & Michele Benignetti

ALBUMLifetimeEleonora Spina & Michele Benignetti

Listen to Thompson: Symphony No. 2 - Samuel Adams: Drift & Providence - Barber: Symphony No. 1 by National Orchestral Institute Philharmonic & James Ross

ALBUMThompson: Symphony No. 2 - Samuel Adams: Drift & Providence - Barber: Symphony No. 1National Orchestral Institute Philharmonic & James Ross

Listen to Samuel Barber: The Lovers, Op. 43 by Martin Häßler, Landesjugendchor Sachsen, Jugendsinfonieorchester Leipzig, Ron-Dirk Entleutner, Randall Thompson & Samuel Barber

ALBUMSamuel Barber: The Lovers, Op. 43Martin Häßler, Landesjugendchor Sachsen, Jugendsinfonieorchester Leipzig, Ron-Dirk Entleutner, Randall Thompson & Samuel Barber

Listen to Beethoven: Concerto for Piano, Violin, Cello and Orchestra, Op. 56 - Barber: Concerto for Piano and Orchestra, Op. 38 by John Browning

ALBUMBeethoven: Concerto for Piano, Violin, Cello and Orchestra, Op. 56 - Barber: Concerto for Piano and Orchestra, Op. 38John Browning

ALBUMBarber: Organ WorksRudolf Innig

Listen to Samuel Barber: Piano Concerto & Solo Piano Works by RTV Slovenia Symphony Orchestra, En Shao & Kevin Robert Orr

ALBUMSamuel Barber: Piano Concerto & Solo Piano WorksRTV Slovenia Symphony Orchestra, En Shao & Kevin Robert Orr

Listen to Tides of Life by Thomas Hampson, Amsterdam Sinfonietta & Candida Thompson

ALBUMTides of LifeThomas Hampson, Amsterdam Sinfonietta & Candida Thompson

Listen to Out of Darkness by Nicholas Canellakis & Michael Stephen Brown

ALBUMOut of DarknessNicholas Canellakis & Michael Stephen Brown

Listen to Barber, Yedidia & Liszt: Piano Works by Stephen Beus

ALBUMBarber, Yedidia & Liszt: Piano WorksStephen Beus

Listen to Better Angels by Emily Pailthorpe, BBC Symphony Orchestra & Martyn Brabbins

ALBUMBetter AngelsEmily Pailthorpe, BBC Symphony Orchestra & Martyn Brabbins

Listen to Voices Within by Jeff Faragher

ALBUMVoices WithinJeff Faragher

Listen to Villa-Lobos & Barber: Work for Piano by Katrina Krimsky

ALBUMVilla-Lobos & Barber: Work for PianoKatrina Krimsky

Listen to Schubert / Barber / Ibert / Reutter / Ravel / Ives: Monologe by Jan-Paul Grijpink & Florian Just

ALBUMSchubert / Barber / Ibert / Reutter / Ravel / Ives: MonologeJan-Paul Grijpink & Florian Just

Listen to Barber: Choral Music by Birmingham Conservatoire Chamber Choir & Paul Spicer

ALBUMBarber: Choral MusicBirmingham Conservatoire Chamber Choir & Paul Spicer

Listen to Immortal by Chloé Trevor & Jonathan Tsay

ALBUMImmortalChloé Trevor & Jonathan Tsay

Listen to Wild About Transcription by Dominic John

ALBUMWild About TranscriptionDominic John

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America's great Late Romantic who gave us the eternal Adagio for strings.

About Samuel Barber

Hometown

West Chester, PA, United States

Born

1910

Genre

Classical

Samuel Barber’s immortality would have been assured even if he had written nothing other than his “Adagio for Strings,” which he finished in 1936. Broadcast upon the announcement of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s death in 1945, it has a deeply cathartic, elegiac tone that cemented its stature as America’s indispensable national music of mourning; it is performed at presidential funerals, following terrorist attacks, and more recently in honor of those lost during the coronavirus pandemic. In addition, it has added an inimitable pathos to films such as The Elephant Man (1980) and Platoon (1986). But Barber wrote much more than just the Adagio, and he became one of America’s most important composers in the middle of the 20th century. Born in Pennsylvania in 1910, he studied at the Curtis Institute and in Italy; while still a student he met the Italian American composer Gian Carlo Menotti, who was to become his artistic collaborator and life partner. His Violin Concerto (1939), Cello Concerto (1945), Piano Concerto (1962), and two symphonies (1926, 1944) illustrate the sinewy strength and occasional acerbity beneath Barber’s outwardly lyrical, post-Romantic tonal style. His first full-scale opera, Vanessa (1958), received the plaudits that were denied his second, Antony and Cleopatra (1966); both have been revived and reassessed since his death in 1981. But it is the Adagio, whether performed on strings or in Barber’s own choral arrangement, that remains his lasting legacy.