Composer

:

Samuel Barber

Genre

:

Keyboard

Style

:

Keyboard

Compose Date

:

1927

Average_duration

:

8:27

Movement_count

:

2

Movement ....

Samuel Barber's Prelude and Fugue in B minor is a two-movement work for solo piano. It was composed in 1959 and premiered by pianist John Browning in 1960. The piece is approximately 10 minutes in length. The first movement, the Prelude, is marked "Allegro energico." It begins with a bold, declamatory statement in the left hand, followed by a rapid, virtuosic passage in the right hand. The music then settles into a more lyrical section, with a flowing melody in the right hand accompanied by arpeggiated chords in the left. This section builds to a climax before returning to the opening material. The Prelude ends with a brief coda that recalls the opening statement. The second movement, the Fugue, is marked "Allegro molto." It is a complex, contrapuntal work that showcases Barber's skill as a composer. The fugue subject is introduced in the right hand and is then imitated by the left hand. The music builds in intensity as new voices are added, and the fugue subject is developed and transformed. The climax of the fugue is a virtuosic passage that features rapid, cascading arpeggios in both hands. The music then subsides, and the fugue ends with a quiet, introspective coda. Overall, Barber's Prelude and Fugue in B minor is a challenging and rewarding work for pianists. It showcases Barber's mastery of both lyrical and contrapuntal writing, and it is a testament to his enduring legacy as one of America's greatest composers.

More....