Deutsche Grammophon
1994
Barber: The Songs
About This Album
This Deutsche Grammophon collection of the songs of American composer Samuel Barber initially made its bow in 1994. In the United States it originally debuted under the poorly chosen title Secrets of the Old, and this was swiftly amended to conform to the regular British version, simply titled Samuel Barber: The Songs. Rather unceremoniously deleted at one point, the set is making its return under the still more simplified Barber: The Songs as a number within the "Gramophone Award Collection," which also offers re-releases from Decca and Philips catalogs, as well. This selection of 47 songs coordinated, annotated, and accompanied by pianist John Browning is not "complete" as the early, withdrawn version of the front cover once announced. But in the decade since its release, none of the other known heretofore unpublished Barber songs have seen the light of day, so this package remains more all-inclusive than any other, and all of the ten "new" Barber songs included are either at or barely below his usual high standard of work.

Of the singer, Cheryl Studer is definitely the weak link in this project. In general her loud, heavy, and somewhat wayward voice is at least tolerable and sometimes her delivery of line and lyric is good; she treats Barber's songs with respect, if not reverence.
Track List

Disc 1

A Slumber Song of the Madonna, for voice & organ
1.
There's Nae Lark, for voice & piano
2.
Love at the Door, song for voice & piano
3.
Serenade, for string quartet or string orchestra, Op. 1
4.
Love's Caution, song for voice & piano
5.
Night Wanderers, song for voice & piano
6.
Of That So Sweet Imprisonment, song for voice & piano
7.
Strings in the Earth and Air, song for voice & piano
8.
The Beggar's Song, song for voice & piano
9.
In the Dark Pinewood, song for voice & piano
10.
Songs (3), for voice & piano, Op. 2
11.
12.
13.
Songs (3), for voice & piano, Op. 10
14.
15.
16.
Songs (4), For Voice & Piano, Op. 13
17.
18.
19.
20.
Dover Beach, for baritone (or mezzo-soprano) & string quartet, Op. 3
21.

Disc 2

Songs (2), for voice & piano, Op. 18
1.
2.
Nuvoletta, song for voice & piano, Op. 25
3.
Mélodies passagères (5), songs for voice & piano, Op. 27
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Hermit Songs, for voice & piano, Op. 29
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
Despite and Still, song cycle for voice & piano, Op. 41
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
Songs (3), for voice & piano, Op. 45
24.
25.
26.