Samuel Barber

Howard Pollack is the John and Rebecca Moores Professor of Music at the University of Houston. His books include Aaron Copland: The Life and of an Uncommon Man,George Gershwin: His Life and Work, and Marc Blitzstein: His Life, His Work, His World.

Introduction Samuel Barber and His Family A Musical Education Personal Matters: Early Years Other Formative Experiences Early Works Through 1932 More Adventures at Home and Abroad, 1933-1939 Music for a Scene from Shelley and One Day of Spring Songs and Choruses, 1934-1940 The First Symphony and the String Quartet Adagio for Strings and the First Essay The Violin Concerto and Second Essay In the Army The Second Symphony and Excursions Capricorn Concerto and the Cello Concerto Barber and His Contemporaries Medea Knoxville: Summer of 1915 and "Nuvoletta" The Piano Sonata and Melodies passageres Personal Matters: Later Years A Composer's Life Souvenirs and Hermit Songs Prayers of Kierkegaard, Adventure, and Summer Music Vanessa From the Nocturne to Die Natali The Piano Concerto and Andromache's Farewell The Creation of Antony and Cleopatra Antony and Cleopatra in Performance From Chorale for Ascension Day to The Lovers From Fadograph of a Yestern Scene to the Canzonetta Epilogue and Conclusion Notes Index

"Richly detailed, beautifully written, and as humane as it is observant, Howard Pollack's biography paints a convincing portrait not only of Samuel Barber himself, but of the unique milieu that shaped his music and character. Sam began as my mentor and later became my colleague and friend; I recognize him throughout this remarkable book."--John Corigliano, Pulitzer Prize-winning composer "This critical biography will no doubt become a foundational text. Pollack humanizes Barber by providing new insights, information, and perspectives about him that include religious, political, social, and cultural issues, and details about his interactions with an array of artists, friends, and institutions. The author's flowing style provides a meaty narrative for general readers while his use and interpretation of an exhaustive trove of sources will serve scholars for years to come."--Sally Bick, author of Unsettled Scores: Politics, Hollywood, and the Film Music of Aaron Copland and Hanns Eisler