Sonata for Cello and Piano, Op. 6
- Instrumentation
- Cello, Piano
- Composed
- 1932
- Duration
- 19'
- Publisher
- G. Schirmer
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About this piece
Barber wrote his only cello sonata in 1932, aged 22, while finishing his studies at the Curtis Institute, and dedicated it to his composition teacher Rosario Scalero. Cast in C minor, it is openly romantic and Brahmsian in spirit: a broad Allegro ma non troppo, a slow movement that folds a scherzo inside its Adagio, and an Allegro appassionato finale. Orlando Cole and the composer gave the premiere at a League of Composers concert in 1933. Published by G. Schirmer (28 pages, distributed by Hal Leonard); the Adagio is also in the G. Schirmer Cello Anthology.
Technical overview
Wikipedia describes it as a romantic work, profound and passionate, in the manner of Brahms; the second movement folds a Presto scherzo inside its Adagio.