NI 2528
Total Playing Time
54 minutes 31 seconds
DDD Stereo

Samuel Barber


The Complete Solo Piano Music


John Browning, Piano

Barber's piano music covers his whole career and the styles of the pieces employ almost as many different languages. Take his masterpiece for the instrument - the Sonata. Commissioned by Irving Berlin and Richard Rodgers to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the League of Composers it is a tersely and cogently argued work. It employed twelve note techniques, but never loses sight of tonality. It was premièred by Vladimir Horowitz. It's a tour de force of piano writing and is a ferociously difficult work both to play and to listen to. It gives little respite to both performer and listener and needs repeated hearings to get to grips with its language. Browning plays this complex work to the manner born.

The next biggest piece is the set of four Excursions - Barber's first major piano work. They are based on old American songs and musical vernacular. These are delightful pieces, unpretentious and easy-going and Browning is totally at home with them, making them sing and bringing out a little nostalgia as well. Delicious stuff! The late Ballade is a hot-house affair which owes more than a little to the highly flavoured music of Scriabin and the composer packs a lot into a short playing time.

There's little that can be said of this recital except that is essential listening and the performances are as committed as one could hope for. Browning's was a major talent which was heard all too infrequently outside the USA so we must be grateful for his recordings. This is well worth having on the shelf both as a reminder of a great pianist and as an example of some of the most refined piano music to come out of America in the 20th century.
Bob Briggs, MusicWeb-International

















UPC: 710357252822, £ 10.75 plus postage and packing
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