BARBER - Piano Sonata

I recently discovered this wonderful piece. I like to hear your views on this work.

Anyone know if there is an online analysis of this work available?

I like it a lot. It is also a scallop to play; I've played the first movement and the third, but the 2nd and 4th are way beyond me. As they say, this is a piece you should learn before you're 40, because you need to learn how to move your fingers in a totally new way...

I'm glad I am not 40 yet, then. I am still waiting on the sheetmusic.

Lately I really am in love with Barber. The piano concerto is just amazing, and the 1st Symphony is superb.

I am a bit surprised that he is a contemporary composer, but his harmonic language is just so accessible. How is this possible? How did he get famous still writing sort of tonal music? Or is he ignored by the hardcore seriallists?

Barber - I have mixed feelings about his works. The piano sonata is wonderful and I recommend a great recording on Hyperion which pairs it with the Ives Concord Sonata. I find his symphonies well crafted but dull - just NOT my taste. Barber also wrote a beautiful woodwind quintet - Summer Wind.

QC, who is not here anymore, would be a great person to talk to about this. Check with some of the long term members to see how to reach him (Daniel may know how). QC would LOVE to discuss Barber with you.

Barber - I have mixed feelings about his works. The piano sonata is wonderful and I recommend a great recording on Hyperion which pairs it with the Ives Concord Sonata. I find his symphonies well crafted but dull - just my taste. Barber also wrote a beautiful woodwind quintet - Summer Wind.

QC, who is not here anymore, would be a great person to talk to about this. Check with some of the long term members to see how to reach him (Daniel may know how). QC would LOVE to discuss Barber with you.

I think you must've meant Summer Music*...truly a beautiful piece!

Yes Summer Music - sorry about that.

The best way to reach QC (since I won't be giving out his e-mail address) would be on here:

http://www.composeforums.com/forum/default.asp

Alternatively, you could try his website:

http://www.dosblanc.ca/

Ah! I cannot do a detailed analysis on Barber's music with you, BUT he is my favorite composer. I absolutely love Barber's music. I know most of his stuff by heart.

My favorite Barber pieces are theFirst and Second Essays for Orchestra, Adagio for Strings, the First Symphony (This is actually the most listened to thing in my iTunes library - That 3rd movement is one of the most hauntingly gorgeous things ever written in my opinion), The Hesitation Tango from his Souvenirs series for Piano, The Cello/Piano Sonata, The Violin Concerto, Medea's Dance of Vengeance,The Piano Concerto, and The Excursions for Piano. I love it all but I have a fondness for those that I cannot describe.

To me Barber never wrote anything bad or subpar. And he is the composer that gives me goosebumps the most. There are so many orgasmically exhilarating or hauntingly gorgeous or breathtakingly amazing moments in his music whether it is from his massive symphonies or essays or to his piano works. Sometimes when I listen to Barber I think I am listening to God's music.

I am going to get to hear Gil Shaham play Barber's Violin Concerto on Friday night. I am so excited that I can barely contain myself.

YEAH, the 3rd movement of Sym1 is really gorgeous indeed. The final chord is like overwhelming, like you are looking in a light that is too brigh it burns your eyes. I have little with metaphores like these but bear with me this one occasion...

I am going to look for the summer music! so thanks CO&BB

I finally got the piano sonata score. In the third movement I see two twelve-tone tone rows. Does someone know how to analyse them, since I have never learned that. Any sites that teach a little about. Or does someone have access to an article called: "some remarks on the use of twelve-tone and fugue techniques in Samuel Barber's Piano Sonata", Journal of the american musicological society, summer 1952

The row in the 3rd movement is just used as a harmonic base, he's generally pretty free with it. The 1st movement is filled with rows and set fragments that he develops. I haven't analyzed it in depth so I can't give you a detailed analysis