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selection of 47 songs coordinated, annotated, and accompanied by pianist John Browning is not "complete" as the early, withdrawn version of the front cover once announced. But in the decade since its release, none of the other known heretofore unpublished Barber songs have seen the light of day, so this package remains more all-inclusive than any other, and all of the ten "new" Barber songs included are either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. But one sorely wishes DG had found someone else to sing Sure on This Shining Night; you could go down to the local university music school and find half a dozen sopranos who could do a better job than Studer does here. Thomas Hampson, by comparison, is in fine form throughout, particularly in the Op. 27 songs, Bessie Bobtail and even in the early songs such as Night Wanderers. John Browning melds the whole thing together with his expertly formulated accompaniments, which capture both the letter and spirit of Barber's music. Without him, interest flags; the Hampson and Emerson String Quartet collaboration on Dover Beach, Op. 3, is not a highlight of this collection.

In terms of representing repertoire, some releases can remain at the top of their particular game without being absolutely perfect. Barber: The Songs belongs in this category, but its return to the catalog is nonetheless welcome in any form.

© Uncle Dave Lewis, All Music Guide

CD 1 of 2
Samuel Barber Composer A Slumber Song of the Madonna, for voice and organ Work Cheryl Studer Soprano, John Browning Piano
1	A Slumber Song of the Madonna, for voice and organ	2:01			$0.99
Samuel Barber Composer There's Nae Lark Work Thomas Hampson Baritone, John Browning Piano
2	There's Nae Lark	1:43			$0.49
Samuel Barber Composer Love at the Door Work Thomas Hampson Baritone, John Browning Piano
3	Love at the Door	1:26			$0.49
Samuel Barber Composer Serenade for String Quartet (or string orchestra), Op.1 Work Thomas Hampson Baritone, John Browning Piano
4	Serenade for String Quartet (or string orchestra), Op.1	2:16			$0.99
Samuel Barber Composer Love's Caution Work Cheryl Studer Soprano, John Browning Piano
5	Love's Caution	2:56			$0.99
Samuel Barber Composer Night Wanderers Work Thomas Hampson Baritone, John Browning Piano
6	Night Wanderers	3:02			$0.99
Samuel Barber Composer Of That So Sweet Imprisonment Work Cheryl Studer Soprano, John Browning Piano
7	Of That So Sweet Imprisonment	2:10			$0.99
Samuel Barber Composer Strings in the Earth and Air Work Cheryl Studer Soprano, John Browning Piano
8	Strings in the Earth and Air	1:18			$0.49
Samuel Barber Composer The Beggar's Song Work Thomas Hampson Baritone, John Browning Piano
9	The Beggar's Song	2:02			$0.99
Samuel Barber Composer In the Dark Pinewood Work Thomas Hampson Baritone, John Browning Piano
10	In the Dark Pinewood	1:46			$0.49
Samuel Barber Composer 3 Songs, Op.2 Work 5:36 Cheryl Studer Soprano, Thomas Hampson Baritone, John Browning Piano
11	1.The Daisies	1:20			$0.49
12	2.With Rue My Heart Is Laden	1:28			$0.49
13	3.Bessie Bobtail	2:48			$0.99
Samuel Barber Composer 3 Songs, Op.10 (texts by Joyce) Work 9:17 Thomas Hampson Baritone, John Browning Piano
14	1.Rain Has Fallen	3:02			$0.99
15	2.Sleep Now	3:33			$0.99
16	3.I Hear an Army	2:42			$0.99
Samuel Barber Composer 4 Songs, Op.13 Work 9:21 Cheryl Studer Soprano, John Browning Piano
17	1.A Nun Takes the Veil	1:42			$0.49
18	2.The Secrets of the Old	1:08			$0.49
19	3.Sure on this Shining Night	2:30			$0.99
20	4.Nocturne	4:01			$0.99
Samuel Barber Composer Dover Beach, for baritone (or mezzo-soprano) and string quartet, Op.3 Work Thomas Hampson Baritone, Emerson String Quartet String Quartet
21	Dover Beach, for baritone (or mezzo-soprano) and string quartet, Op.3	8:12			$1.49
CD 2 of 2
Samuel Barber Composer 2 Songs, Op.18 Work 3:12 Cheryl Studer Soprano, John Browning Piano
1	1.The Queen's Face on the Summery Coin	2:00			$0.99
2	2.Monks and Raisins	1:12			$0.49
Samuel Barber Composer Nuvoletta, Op.25 (text by Joyce) Work Cheryl Studer Soprano, John Browning Piano
3	Nuvoletta, Op.25 (text by Joyce)	5:07			$0.99
Samuel Barber Composer Mélodies passagères, Op.27 (song cycle; texts by Rilke) Work 9:14 Thomas Hampson Baritone, John Browning Piano
4	1.Puisque tout passe	1:35			$0.49
5	2.Un cygne	2:22			$0.99
6	3.Tombeau dans un parc	1:56			$0.49
7	4.Le clocher chante	1:23			$0.49
8	5.Départ	1:58			$0.49
Samuel Barber Composer Hermit Songs, Op.29 (song cycle; Irish texts 8th-13th c.) Work 18:19 Cheryl Studer Soprano, John Browning Piano
9	1.At Saint Patrick's Purgatory	1:30			$0.49
10	2.Church Bell at Night	0:53			$0.49
11	3.St. Ita's Vision	3:18			$0.99
12	4.The Heavenly Banquet	1:11			$0.49
13	5.The Crucifixion (from 'The Speckled Book')	2:25			$0.99
14	6.Sea-Snatch	0:40			$0.49
15	7.Promiscuity	0:58			$0.49
16	8.The Monk and His Cat: Pangur, White Pangur	2:40			$0.99
17	9.The Praises of God: How Foolish the Man	0:56			$0.49
18	10.The Desire for Hermitage	3:48			$0.99
Samuel Barber Composer Despite and Stil, Op.41 (song cycle) Work 10:59 Thomas Hampson Baritone, John Browning Piano
19	1.A Last Song	2:32			$0.99
20	2.My Lizard	1:04			$0.49
21	3.In the Wilderness	3:21			$0.99
22	4.Solitary Hotel	2:39			$0.99
23	5.Despite and Still	1:23			$0.49
Samuel Barber Composer 3 Songs, Op.45 Work 9:02 Thomas Hampson Baritone, John Browning Piano
24	1.Now Have I Fed and Eaten Up the Rose	2:36			$0.99
25	2.A Green Lowland of Pianos	2:09			$0.99
26	3.O Boundless, Boundless Evening	4:17			$0.99