Samuel Barber: An American Romantic

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.

Track Listing

1. Twelfth night, Op. 42, No. 1 (1968)
2. To be sung on the water, Op. 42, No. 2 (1968)
3. The virgin martyrs, Op. 8, No. 1 (1935)
4. Let down the bars, O death, Op. 8, No. 2 (1936)
5. REINCARNATIONS: Mary Hynes, Op. 16, No. 1 (1937)
6. REINCARNATIONS: Anthony O’Daly, Op. 16, No. 2 (1940)
7. REINCARNATIONS: The Coolin’, Op. 16, No. 3 (1940)
8. A stopwatch and an ordnance map, Op. 15 (1940)
9. Sure on this shining night, Op. 13, No. 3 (c. 1968)
10. Agnus Dei, Op. 11 (choral arrangement 1967)

THE LOVERS, Op. 43 (1971), Kyr version (2011)—

11. Prelude (instrumental)
12. I. Body of a woman
13. II. Lithe girl, brown girl
14. III. In the hot depth of this summer
15. IV. Close your eyes
16. V. The Fortunate Isles
17. VI. Sometimes
18. VII. We have lost even this twilight
19. VIII. Tonight I can write
20. IX. Cemetery of kisses
21. Easter Chorale (Chorale for Ascension Day), Op. 40 (1965), Kyr version (2011)