Samuel Barber: An American Romantic
Choral music by Samuel Barber, with new chamber versions for Conspirare by Robert Kyr
Recorded September 2011 at Sauder Concert Hall, Goshen College, IN
Listen on Apple Music, Spotify, and YouTube now!
Craig Hella Johnson, Conductor
Presented here are some of Barber’s finest works for choir. As with his instrumental music, they showcase his ability to write emotive music within pristinely sophisticated structures; works of extraordinary beauty and difficulty. Includes first recordings of new versions (for chamber chorus & orchestra) of Easter Chorale and The Lovers written especially for Conspirare by Robert Kyr.
Additional solos by Matt Tresler, Estelí Gomez, and Derek Chester. With Faith Debow, piano, and Thomas Burritt, timpani.
Conspirare, Craig Hella Johnson & Company of Voices
with David Farwig, baritone, and Chamber Orchestra
Harmonia Mundi HMU 807522 - 79’44″
- Twelfth night, Op. 42, No. 1 (1968)
- To be sung on the water, Op. 42, No. 2 (1968)
- The virgin martyrs, Op. 8, No. 1 (1935)
- Let down the bars, O death, Op. 8, No. 2 (1936)
- REINCARNATIONS: Mary Hynes, Op. 16, No. 1 (1937)
- REINCARNATIONS: Anthony O’Daly, Op. 16, No. 2 (1940)
- REINCARNATIONS: The Coolin’, Op. 16, No. 3 (1940)
- A stopwatch and an ordnance map, Op. 15 (1940)
- Sure on this shining night, Op. 13, No. 3 (c. 1968)
- Agnus Dei, Op. 11 (choral arrangement 1967)
THE LOVERS, Op. 43 (1971), Kyr version (2011)—
- Prelude (instrumental)
- I. Body of a woman
- II. Lithe girl, brown girl
- III. In the hot depth of this summer
- IV. Close your eyes
- V. The Fortunate Isles
- VI. Sometimes
- VII. We have lost even this twilight
- VIII. Tonight I can write
- IX. Cemetery of kisses
- Easter Chorale (Chorale for Ascension Day), Op. 40 (1965), Kyr version (2011)
