"Adagio for Strings" was written by American composer Samuel Barber. It is Barber's best-known composition although it was not one of his Pulitzer Prize winners. The Adagio is a re-arrangement of the slow second movement of Barber's "String Quarter, Op. 11."
Barber was only 26 when the Adagio was performed, in 1938, by Arturo Toscanini's famed NBC Symphony Orchestra. At the end of the first rehearsal, Toscanini remarked, "Simple & beautiful!" This was especially amazing because he rarely conducted pieces by American composers. Read Full Bio"Adagio for Strings" was written by American composer Samuel Barber. It is Barber's best-known composition although it was not one of his Pulitzer Prize winners. The Adagio is a re-arrangement of the slow second movement of Barber's "String Quarter, Op. 11."
Barber was only 26 when the Adagio was performed, in 1938, by Arturo Toscanini's famed NBC Symphony Orchestra. At the end of the first rehearsal, Toscanini remarked, "Simple & beautiful!" This was especially amazing because he rarely conducted pieces by American composers. At first, Barber knew none of this and was angry with Toscanini who had returned the score to Barber without comment. Only later, did Barber realize this had occurred because Toscanini had already memorized the score!
In 1965, Barber rewrote the score for an 8-person choir as part of his religious work "Agnus Dei."
The work has been part of many famous performances besides Toscanini's:
1. It was played during the funerals of Princess Grace & Alfred Einstein.
2. It was played in Britain's Royal Albert Hall during a 2001 tribute to the 9-11 victims.
3. It was played on national radio as part of the announcement of President Franklin Roosevelt's death.
Barber was only 26 when the Adagio was performed, in 1938, by Arturo Toscanini's famed NBC Symphony Orchestra. At the end of the first rehearsal, Toscanini remarked, "Simple & beautiful!" This was especially amazing because he rarely conducted pieces by American composers. Read Full Bio"Adagio for Strings" was written by American composer Samuel Barber. It is Barber's best-known composition although it was not one of his Pulitzer Prize winners. The Adagio is a re-arrangement of the slow second movement of Barber's "String Quarter, Op. 11."
Barber was only 26 when the Adagio was performed, in 1938, by Arturo Toscanini's famed NBC Symphony Orchestra. At the end of the first rehearsal, Toscanini remarked, "Simple & beautiful!" This was especially amazing because he rarely conducted pieces by American composers. At first, Barber knew none of this and was angry with Toscanini who had returned the score to Barber without comment. Only later, did Barber realize this had occurred because Toscanini had already memorized the score!
In 1965, Barber rewrote the score for an 8-person choir as part of his religious work "Agnus Dei."
The work has been part of many famous performances besides Toscanini's:
1. It was played during the funerals of Princess Grace & Alfred Einstein.
2. It was played in Britain's Royal Albert Hall during a 2001 tribute to the 9-11 victims.
3. It was played on national radio as part of the announcement of President Franklin Roosevelt's death.
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Jamie Kitchens
This was my Father's favorite piece, he passed in March 2020, and now it is mine.
Helm Hammerhand
I’m sorry for your loss
TeeVee
Some times you got to wait it out to take what's yours.
Khalil G
Your father had amazing taste, my condolences 🙏
RD Zed
That's awful. RiP your dad.
Mark Murray
R.I.P dad ..
Arthur Lecomte
I think I was five when I was aware of hearing this piece for the first time. It was my mom's favorite piece, so every time it was played on the radio we would call her to come. I remember seeing her listening to this, with a face full of emotions I could not understand yet. She once told me that this piece made her think of what would come after this life here on earth. She imagined that the climax stood for leaving this earth and entering heaven. She always said that if she would ever die, we had to play this on her funeral.
I was nine years old when I stood by her bed. There she lay with her white face. 41 years on this earth, until cancer suddenly finished the job. I remember sitting in the church, her coffin right in front of me, hearing this piece of music, feeling emotions I could not understand yet.
HarmonyCore Jr.
Moms are the columns of communities. Not to mention the feeling when they leave us at young ages.
Sorry for your loss !!
Seb
I started reading your comment as the music started to climax, as you say. I was at the beginning of the second paragraph after the climax died down and became mellow.
Aido West
That just broke my heart