Samuel Barber

From his early adulthood, Barber wrote a flurry of successful compositions, launching him into the spotlight of the classical music world. According to Walter Simmons, Barber's earlier compositions contain certain characteristics that directly relate to the "childhood" period of his composition, extending to 1942. The use of [[Tonality|tonal harmony]], unresolved [[Consonance and dissonance|dissonance]], moderate [[chromaticism]], and largely diatonic, lyrical melodies are some of the defining features of this period in his compositional career.{{sfn|Simmons|2004|page=219}} At the age of 18, he won the [[Joseph H. Bearns Prize]] from [[Columbia University]] for his [[violin sonata]] (since lost or destroyed by the composer).<ref name="obit"/> He won the Bearns Prize a second time for his first large-scale orchestral work, [[The School for Scandal (Barber)|an overture]] to ''[[The School for Scandal]]'', which was composed in 1931 when he was 21 years old.{{sfn|Heyman|2001}} It premiered successfully two years later in a performance given by the [[Philadelphia Orchestra]] under the direction of conductor [[Alexander Smallens]].<ref name="obit"/>

From his early adulthood, Barber wrote a flurry of successful compositions, launching him into the spotlight of the classical music world. According to Walter Simmons, Barber's earlier compositions contain certain characteristics that directly relate to the "childhood" period of his composition, extending to 1942. The use of [[Tonality|tonal harmony]], unresolved [[Consonance and dissonance|dissonance]], moderate [[chromaticism]], and largely diatonic, lyrical melodies are some of the defining features of this period in his compositional career.{{sfn|Simmons|2004|page=219}} At the age of 18, he won the [[Joseph H. Bearns Prize]] from [[Columbia University]] for his [[violin sonata]] (since lost or destroyed by the composer).<ref name="obit"/> He won the Bearns Prize a second time for his first large-scale orchestral work, [[The School for Scandal (Barber)|an overture]] to ''[[The School for Scandal]]'', which was composed in 1931 when he was 21 years old.{{sfn|Heyman|2001}} It premiered successfully two years later in a performance given by the [[Philadelphia Orchestra]] under the direction of conductor [[Alexander Smallens]].<ref name="obit"/>

While a student at Curtis, Barber also pursued other music development opportunities as well as personal interests through travels in Europe; mainly in the summer months when school was not in session but also sometimes for longer periods. His first European trip began in the summer of 1928 in which he visited Paris, Brittany, and Italy with cellist and composer David Freed.{{sfn|Heyman|1992|p=58}} He continued to travel in Europe in the fall of 1928 without Freed to other European cities in Czechoslovakia, Germany, Switzerland, and Austria; during which time he first visited the city of Vienna which would later become an important city in his musical development. During this first stay in Vienna in 1928 he formed a friendship with composer [[George Antheil]].<ref name="Pollack">{{harvnb|Pollack|2023|loc=Ch 4: "Other Formative Experiences"}}</ref>

While a student at Curtis, Barber also pursued other music development opportunities as well as personal interests through travels in Europe; mainly in the summer months when school was not in session but also sometimes for longer periods. His first European trip began in the summer of 1928 in which he visited Paris, Brittany, and Italy with cellist and composer [[David Freed]].{{sfn|Heyman|1992|p=58}} He continued to travel in Europe in the fall of 1928 without Freed to other European cities in Czechoslovakia, Germany, Switzerland, and Austria; during which time he first visited the city of Vienna which would later become an important city in his musical development. During this first stay in Vienna in 1928 he formed a friendship with composer [[George Antheil]].<ref name="Pollack">{{harvnb|Pollack|2023|loc=Ch 4: "Other Formative Experiences"}}</ref>

Barber returned to Italy in the summer of 1929 using funds he received upon winning the Bearns Prize; this time with Menotti as his travel companion. He returned to Paris in the summer of 1930, and in the summers of 1931 and 1933 both Barber and Menotti studied composition with [[Rosario Scalero]] in [[Montestrutto]], [[Turin]] while staying with Menotti's parents in [[Cadegliano-Viconago|Cadegliano]].<ref name="Pollack"/> After winning the Bearns Prize a second time in April 1933, he extended his stay in Europe beyond the summer of that year to pursue further studies in Vienna; staying in that city in the Autumn of 1933 into the early part of 1934.<ref name="Pollack"/> During this period his studies were mainly focused on developing his talents as a vocalist with the intent of pursuing a career as a [[baritone]].<ref name="one twelve"/> He also studied conducting independently during this period;<ref name="one twelve">{{harvnb|Heyman|1992|p=110}}</ref> making his professional conducting debut in Vienna on January 4, 1934.{{sfn|Broder|1985|p=26}} In March 1934 he returned to Philadelphia to finish his studies at Curtis.{{sfn|Heyman|2001}}

Barber returned to Italy in the summer of 1929 using funds he received upon winning the Bearns Prize; this time with Menotti as his travel companion. He returned to Paris in the summer of 1930, and in the summers of 1931 and 1933 both Barber and Menotti studied composition with [[Rosario Scalero]] in [[Montestrutto]], [[Turin]] while staying with Menotti's parents in [[Cadegliano-Viconago|Cadegliano]].<ref name="Pollack"/> After winning the Bearns Prize a second time in April 1933, he extended his stay in Europe beyond the summer of that year to pursue further studies in Vienna; staying in that city in the Autumn of 1933 into the early part of 1934.<ref name="Pollack"/> During this period his studies were mainly focused on developing his talents as a vocalist with the intent of pursuing a career as a [[baritone]].<ref name="one twelve"/> He also studied conducting independently during this period;<ref name="one twelve">{{harvnb|Heyman|1992|p=110}}</ref> making his professional conducting debut in Vienna on January 4, 1934.{{sfn|Broder|1985|p=26}} In March 1934 he returned to Philadelphia to finish his studies at Curtis.{{sfn|Heyman|2001}}