Samuel Barber

This second edition of the award-winning biography of one of the most important American composers benefits from a quarter century of new discoveries, including manuscripts, diaries, correspondence, scholarly publications, and serendipitous finds.

Barbara B. Heyman is a musicologist who has written extensively about Samuel Barber. An accomplished pianist and violinist, she was educated at Barnard College, holds an MSSW degree from Columbia University, and a Ph.D. in Music History from the City University of New York. She has written numerous articles for scholarly journals and encyclopedias, as well as Samuel Barber: A Thematic Catalogue of the Complete Works (OUP, 2012), the first thematic catalogue of an American composer.

INTRODUCTION,
1. BEGINNINGS,
2. A SERIOUS STUDENT,
The Curtis Institute of Music, Scalero, Menotti, First publications, Three Songs
3. DISCOVERIES,
Summers in Europe, the Menotti family, Serenade for String Quartet, Violin Sonata, Piano Concerto, Organ Prelude and Fugue, Interludes for Piano, Carillon pieces
4. UNCERTAINTIES,
Overture to The School for Scandal, Dover Beach, Composer as singer
5. INDEPENDENCE,
Cello Sonata, Music for a Scene from Shelley, Incidental Music for One Day of Spring
6. THE AMERICAN ACADEMY,
Symphony in One Movement, Chamber Music, String Quartet
7. RECOGNITION,
The Toscanini premieres: Essay for Orchestra, and the Adagio for Strings, Choral works
8. PRELUDE TO WAR,
Violin Concerto, Four Songs, Second Essay
9. WORLD CATACLYSM,
Commando March, Funeral March, Second Symphony, Night Flight, Four Excursions, Capricorn Concerto
10. MIDDLE YEARS,
Cello Concerto, Medea, Knoxville: Summer of 1915, Piano Sonata
11. COMPOSER AS CONDUCTOR,
12. SONG CYCLES,
Melodies passagères, Souvenirs, Hermit Songs, "Adventure"
13. SEARCHES,
Prayers of Kierkegaard, Summer Music, "Horizon"
14. VANESSA,
15. INTERLUDE,
Wondrous Love, Nocturne, A Hand of Bridge, Toccata Festiva, Die Natali
16. LINCOLN CENTER COMMISSIONS,
Piano Concerto, Andromache's Farewell
17. A NEW OPERA HOUSE,
Antony and Cleopatra
18. THE LAST YEARS,
Despite and Still, Choral works, Mutations from Bach, The Lovers, Fadograph of a Yestern Scene, Three Songs, Ballade, Third Essay, Canzonetta for Oboe and String Orchestra
POSTLUDE,
Works List,
Bibliography,
Notes,
Index,