Posted by Dianne Nicolini on December 1, 2010
Posted in: Dianne's Top Picks
A new book by Thomas Larson explores the legacy of Samuel Barber’s most famous piece during this, his centennial year. In The Saddest Music Ever Written: The Story of Samuel Barber’s Adagio for Strings, Larson writes “The Adagio’s sonorous intensity also speaks of the turbulent inner life of its composer.” The author is in town for book signings this week. December 7 at San Francisco’s Books, Inc. and December 8 at Book Passage in Corte Madera. Here’s a link to the author’s website.
Composer Samuel Barber
When I first became aware of the Adagio, my husband and I were riding in the car. I told him “that is what I want played at my Memorial Service.”
Instead, he died a few years later, and his service opened with that music. Every time I hear it I think of him, no so much with sadness, but with gratitude for the time we had together.
Comment by Barbara — December 5, 2010 @ 5:12 pm