Samuel Barber » Tracks » Adagio For Strings

Samuel Barber – Adagio For Strings (6:59)

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About This Track

“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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  • FerinaSKH

    Builds up to leave you breathless [3]

    Saturday evening

  • ladycaroledowns

    This makes me cry, my Dad loved this, i can barely listen to it :-((

    last week

  • Timppa2000

    kgkeller: this has nothing to do with 9/11...

    9 days ago

  • afgb77

    Te hara recordar otra vida.

    12 days ago

  • headey

    Great piece. (shame it doesn't include about a minute of silence at the end before lastfm starts the next track). ~~~~ @trekeyus -it's OK James man... just do the tears and enjoy them.

    20 days ago

  • trekeyus

    one of the most passionate and moving peaces of music ever written. it's hard not to get tearful listing to it.

    28 days ago

  • kgkeller

    I can hardly bear to watch the video here of 9/11.........The world bled that day

    28 days ago

  • gianfrancociuff

    commovente.................

    last month

  • ActiveInfidel

    ...In Vietnam, we were really fighting ourselves and the enemy was inside us...

    last month

  • sadovniknov

    !!!!!

    last month

  • fmdaisy

    Have loved and enjoyed for many years

    last month

  • adrianoxavier3

    It introduces me to the peace and soul.

    March 2012

  • FeatgaryTD

    No lyrics can match the meanings of such music

    March 2012

  • Aartmusic

    Builds up to leave you breathless [2]

    March 2012

  • Vibracious1

    Well done...

    March 2012

  • genom80

    absolutely brilliant

    March 2012

  • alvarosantanna

    fantastic!

    February 2012

  • MackTheKnifeAU2

    Kharak is burning :(

    February 2012

  • MarianneAudrey

    Covered in charcoal in my studio wearing nothing but my slippers...

    February 2012

  • IndefiniteCure

    makes me cry almost every time!

    January 2012
See all 673 shouts

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