Complete Songs of Samuel Barber ~ Secrets of the Old / Studer, Hampson, Browning, Emerson String Quartet

Barber (Artist), Studer (Artist), Hampson (Artist), Browning (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 12, 1994)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Polygram Records
• ASIN: B000001GH2
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #181,782 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Secrets Of The Old: A Slumber Song Of The Madonna - Moderato

2. Secrets Of The Old: There's Nae Lark - Moderato

3. Secrets Of The Old: Love At The Door - Allegro

4. Secrets Of The Old: Sereandes - Andante con moto

5. Secrets Of The Old: Love's Caution (Moderato)

6. Secrets Of The Old: Night Wanderers (Without Tempo Indication)

7. Secrets Of The Old: Of That So Sweet Imprisonment - Con moto

8. Secrets Of The Old: Strings In The Earth And Air - Moderato

9. Secrets Of The Old: Beggar's Song - Andante - Allegro moderato

10. Secrets Of The Old: In The Dark Pinewood

See all 21 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Two Songs, Op. 18: 1. The Queen's Face On The Summery Coin: Andante con moto

2. Two Songs, Op. 18: 2. Monks And Raisins: Allegro

3. Secrets Of The Old: Nuvoletta Op. 25: Allegretto

4. Melodies Passageres, Op. 27: 1. Puisque tout passe: Moderato

5. Melodies Passageres, Op. 27: 2. Un cygne: Moderato

6. Melodies Passageres, Op. 27: 3. Tombeau dans un parc: Lento e sereno

7. Melodies Passageres, Op. 27: 4. Le clocher chante: Non troppo allegro

8. Melodies Passageres, Op. 27: 5. Depart

9. Hermit Songs, Op. 29: 1. At Saint Patrick's Purgatory: Allegretto, In Steady Rhythm

10. Hermit Songs, Op. 29: 2. Church Bell At Night: Molto adagio

See all 26 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Complete Joy, December 1, 1999

By 

Anders Lindeberg (Stockholm Sweden) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Complete Songs of Samuel Barber ~ Secrets of the Old / Studer, Hampson, Browning, Emerson String Quartet (Audio CD)

When I bought this record I had not heard any of the Barber songs before, but what a pleasant surprise they proved to be. These are beautiful romantic songs, and Studer and Hampson perform them very well. The recording sound is also very good. Warmly recommended.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well,its about time!, April 5, 2002

By 

Classica "calassica" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Complete Songs of Samuel Barber ~ Secrets of the Old / Studer, Hampson, Browning, Emerson String Quartet (Audio CD)

Finally, a complete edition of these wonderful songs by this wonderful and sadly underrated composer.
The songs are varied and span the composer's entire creative years.
They range from the romantic, child-like youth compositions (the Daisies)through his almost Brahms sounding period (Sleep now,Nocturne, Sure on this shining night) to his tragic, disenchanted
older years.
The Hermit songs & the French ones are a particular delight. We all know just how wonderful Hampson is, but Studer is also fine & pure sounding- A total joy!

14 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best song-CD EVER released! etc., April 15, 2000

By 

Justin Weaver - See all my reviews

This review is from: Complete Songs of Samuel Barber ~ Secrets of the Old / Studer, Hampson, Browning, Emerson String Quartet (Audio CD)

I'm not even kidding. This really is the best song-CD ever released. Don't laugh until you hear it... then you'll see for yourself. Where to begin! Barber-- his orchestral works are great for the most part, the Knoxville setting for Orchestra and soprano is mediocre, the piano sonata is also great BUT: the heart of this composer is in his songs. And here they ALL are, including the 10 unpublished songs from his youth. There's Nae Lark is one of only three songs I've ever heard that made me burst into tears on FIRST listening... Barber was around 17 when he wrote it! Bessy Bobtail could make a person drop dead in the right mood. The Joyce settings are so true to the poet's intentions! And the final 3 songs...especially A Green Lowland of Pianos show that Barber NEVER EVER lost his musical voice and razor-sharp talent. This compilation also includes the sincere and depressing On Dover Beach setting-- few if any composers besides Barber have ever managed a successful setting of Arnold's multilayered poem. OK... what if you don't like Thomas Hampson... I know there are some out there who think he's an odd singer... too much rubato, too much bravura? I promise you, you'll like him here, you may even grow to love the guy... if Hampson's ever been sincere and if there's ever been a composer whose music is well suited to his voice, it's Barber...guaranteed. I think this compilation also proves (ok, arguably, I'll admit) that complex tonal song settings pose many more compositional challenges than any of the atonal song-music produced in this century. I can't think of any atonal composer outside of Webern who could shake a stick at the harmonic ingenuity of Barber here. (Just so lightning doesn't strike me... Sir Michael Tippett is also a fine song composer, but he's NEVER been atonal, just EXTENDED tonal.) Barber, Barber, Barber... buy this now. These songs are so powerful that I can remember as vividly as yesterday exactly where and when I first heard every one of these songs and what I was feeling... they quite literally imprinted themselves in my mind. Don't cheat yourself out of this experience... buy this now!