Piano Concerto (Barber)

The Piano Concerto, Op. 38, by Samuel Barber was commissioned by the music publishing company G. Schirmer in honor of the hundredth anniversary of their founding. The work premièred on 24 September 1962, in the opening festivities of Philharmonic Hall, now Avery Fisher Hall, the first hall built at Lincoln Center, with John Browning as soloist with the Boston Symphony Orchestra conducted by Erich Leinsdorf.

History

Barber began work on the concerto in March 1960. John Browning was the intended soloist from the outset and the concerto was written with his specific keyboard technique in mind. The first two movements were completed before the end of 1960 but the last movement was not completed until 15 days before the world première performance. The work was met with great critical acclaim with Barber winning his second Pulitzer Prize in 1963 and the Music Critics Circle Award in 1964.

It was recorded by Browning with the Cleveland Orchestra conducted by George Szell in 1964. Other recordings include: 1976 by the MIT Symphony Orchestra for Vox/Turnabout; 1991 by John Browning with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Leonard Slatkin on the RCA Victor Red Seal label; a Naxos release performed by Stephen Prutsman with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra under Marin Alsop; and a performance by Tedd Joselson with the London Symphony Orchestra directed by Andrew Schenck.

Music

coring

The work is scored for piccolo, 2 flutes, 2 oboes, cor anglais, 2 clarinets, bass clarinet, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, timpani, percussion, harp and strings.

Movements

The work is in three movements:
# Allegro appassionato
# Canzone: Moderato
# Allegro molto

I. Allegro appassionato

The first movement opens with a piano declamation of one of the major themes, and then moves into a furious tutti section. This opening section contains the expression of the movement's chief melodies. Through inversion, retrograde, and counterpoint variations of these melodies (which will appear in later movements), Barber spins out the entire movement. It begins and ends in E minor.

II. Canzone: Moderato

The second movement, predominantly in C-sharp minor, is based primarily on one sweet but sad melody and is far more subdued than the first movement.

III. Allegro molto

The third movement, mostly in B-flat minor, is in a furiously fast 5/8 time, with a pounding ostinato that gives the piece a rather devilish sound. It makes heavy use of the brass instruments but ends in a dramatic piano part in which the player climbs up the entire keyboard in a dazzling display of technique.