Barber's piano music

[Ryan]

Hi, i am a new member and wanted to know people's opinions of Barber's piano music. I think it's some of the best and most idiomatic written for the instrument despite not being very prolific in that genre. What do you all think of the technical difficulty of his works?
Best wishes to all
Ryan

[bernhard]

I agree with you.

Barber's piano music should be better known and more played.

I particularly like his "Three Sketches" (no. 1 - Love Song is a beautiful song without words) and his very lyrical and nostalgic Nocturne which is written with modern harmonies but following John Field's model.

These are not very difficult (around grade 5-6).

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

[Ryan]

Hi. Yes i'm glad you like his piano music too, i'm not sure about the three sketches as they were juvenile works whereas i am more interested in the mature works, particularly excursions and the sonata.

[pianista]

Hi!
Do you know when these pieces was composed by Barber f.ex the three sketches or the sonata?

[bernhard]

This is Barber’s complete published piano music:

1. 3 Sketches (1923 - 1924)
Lovesong: Tempo di valse: Allegretto
To My Steinway (To No.220601): Adagio
Minuet: Tempo di minuetto

2. Interlude I ('For Jeanne'): Adagio, ma non troppo (1931)

3. Excursions op. 20 (1942 – 1944)
Un poco allegro
In Slow Blues Tempo
Allegretto
Allegro molto

4. Sonata op. 26 (1949)
Allegro energico
Allegro vivace e leggiero
Adagio mesto
Fuga: Allegro con spirito

5. Souvenirs op. 28 (1951 – 1952)
Waltz: tempo di valse, Allegro con brio
Schottische: tempo si Schottische, Allegro ma non troppo
Pas de deux: Adagio
Two-Step: Allegro molto
Hesitation Tango: Con moto
Galop: Allegro molto

6. Nocturne op. 33 (1959)

7. Ballade op. 46 (1977)

Daniel Pollack has recorded them all for Naxos.

John Browning (arguably Barber’s best interpreter) has recorded most of them (except for three sketches and Souvenirs).

Horowitz, amongst others has recorded the Sonata (it was dedicated to him). In fact originally the sonata had only three movements, but Horowitz insisted that Barber write a flashy finale for it, hence the (very difficult) fugue.

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

[pianista]

Thanks for information!  
Re; John Browning's recording on what label can I find it?

[bernhard]

John Browning recorded Barber’s piano music for Music Masters Classics. You can read a review here:

https://www.classical.net/music/recs/reviews/m/mcc67122a.html

You can listen to samples of it (and buy it) here:

https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000000FRT/002-1109150-7818429?v=glance