Barber composed Music for a Scene from Shelley during a visit to Italy in the summer of 1933. It was inspired in part by the view of Lake Lugano and the Swiss Alps from Cadegliano, where Barber was staying with Gian Carlo Menotti at his family's villa. It is the only one of Barber's compositions that owes its origin to the influence of a place.[1] However, it is also based on and owes its title to lines from act 2, scene 5 of Percy Bysshe Shelley's Prometheus Unbound, in which Panthea prompts her sister Asia (goddess of love) to hear "voices in the air", seeking Asia's sympathy and love.[2] The work was premiered in Carnegie Hall in New York, on March 24, 1935, by the New York Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Werner Janssen. Further performances quickly followed, in Europe as well as the United States, though it has never achieved the popularity of some of Barber’s other early orchestral works.[3] In 1935, Barber was awarded the Prix de Rome of the American Academy in Rome together with a Pulitzer travelling award, for this composition and the Sonata for Cello and Piano. The Rome Prize, announced on NBC Radio on May 9 as part of a broadcast concert of his music including both works, enabled him to return to Italy where he would compose his First Symphony.[4][5]
The form of Music for a Scene from Shelley is disputed. It has been described as an arch form,[6] but this has been rejected as inappropriate, with an alternative proposal of an AB form with coda.[7]
Despite the declared literary program, the character of the music paints a mood of Gothic mystery. The opening motif of four descending notes, heard against a backdrop of an undulating murmur, is subjected to little true development. Instead, it is repeated a number of times with different orchestrations and textures with gradually increasing dynamic levels. New material is then introduced, and the work "builds to a blood-curdling climax before subsiding".[8] More than forty years later, in 1977, Barber would return to this same four-note descending motif in the Ballade for solo piano where, just as in the Music for a Scene from Shelley, it is simply reiterated, rather than being developed.[9]
Referencesedit
Broder, Nathan (1954). Samuel Barber. New York City: G. Schirmer.
Heyman, Barbara B. (1992). Samuel Barber: The Composer and His Music. New York City: Oxford University Press.
Simmons, Walter (2004). Voices in the Wilderness: Six American Neo-romantic Composers. Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press. ISBN9780810848849.
^Pleasants, Henry (May 25, 1935). "Samuel Barber Wins Two Musical Awards". Philadelphia Bulletin.
^Friedewald, Russell Edward. 1957. "A Formal and Stylistic Analysis of the Published Music of Samuel Barber". PhD diss. Ames: Iowa State University. pp. 280–6.
music, scene, from, shelley, tone, poem, composed, samuel, barber, 1933, shelly, writing, prometheus, unbound, canvas, joseph, severn, keats, shelley, memorial, house, rome, history, editbarber, composed, during, visit, italy, summer, 1933, inspired, part, vie. Music for a Scene from Shelley Op 7 is a tone poem composed by Samuel Barber in 1933 Shelly writing Prometheus Unbound oil on canvas by Joseph Severn Keats Shelley Memorial House Rome History editBarber composed Music for a Scene from Shelley during a visit to Italy in the summer of 1933 It was inspired in part by the view of Lake Lugano and the Swiss Alps from Cadegliano where Barber was staying with Gian Carlo Menotti at his family s villa It is the only one of Barber s compositions that owes its origin to the influence of a place 1 However it is also based on and owes its title to lines from act 2 scene 5 of Percy Bysshe Shelley s Prometheus Unbound in which Panthea prompts her sister Asia goddess of love to hear voices in the air seeking Asia s sympathy and love 2 The work was premiered in Carnegie Hall in New York on March 24 1935 by the New York Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra conducted by Werner Janssen Further performances quickly followed in Europe as well as the United States though it has never achieved the popularity of some of Barber s other early orchestral works 3 In 1935 Barber was awarded the Prix de Rome of the American Academy in Rome together with a Pulitzer travelling award for this composition and the Sonata for Cello and Piano The Rome Prize announced on NBC Radio on May 9 as part of a broadcast concert of his music including both works enabled him to return to Italy where he would compose his First Symphony 4 5 Analysis edit nbsp Lake Lugano oil on canvas by Lancelot Theodore Turpin de Crisse The form of Music for a Scene from Shelley is disputed It has been described as an arch form 6 but this has been rejected as inappropriate with an alternative proposal of an AB form with coda 7 Despite the declared literary program the character of the music paints a mood of Gothic mystery The opening motif of four descending notes heard against a backdrop of an undulating murmur is subjected to little true development Instead it is repeated a number of times with different orchestrations and textures with gradually increasing dynamic levels New material is then introduced and the work builds to a blood curdling climax before subsiding 8 More than forty years later in 1977 Barber would return to this same four note descending motif in the Ballade for solo piano where just as in the Music for a Scene from Shelley it is simply reiterated rather than being developed 9 References editBroder Nathan 1954 Samuel Barber New York City G Schirmer Heyman Barbara B 1992 Samuel Barber The Composer and His Music New York City Oxford University Press Simmons Walter 2004 Voices in the Wilderness Six American Neo romantic Composers Lanham Maryland Scarecrow Press ISBN 9780810848849 Footnotes Broder 1954 p 24 Heyman 1992 pp 70 1 124 Broder 1954 p 88 Simmons 2004 p 270 Heyman 1992 p 77 Simmons 2004 p 271 Heyman 1992 p 123 Pleasants Henry May 25 1935 Samuel Barber Wins Two Musical Awards Philadelphia Bulletin Friedewald Russell Edward 1957 A Formal and Stylistic Analysis of the Published Music of Samuel Barber PhD diss Ames Iowa State University pp 280 6 Heyman 1992 p 126 Simmons 2004 p 270 Simmons 2004 pp 316 7 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Music for a Scene from Shelley amp oldid 1028968760, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
