Samuel Barber (1910-1981) Born March 9, 1910 in West Chester, PA. Died January 23, 1981 in New York City. Adagio for String Orchestra, Op. 11 Composed 1936. First Performance: November 5, 1938 with Arturo Toscanini conducting the NBC Symphony. Instrumentation: string orchestra (first and second violins with divided parts, viola divided, cello divided and bass) Duration: ~ 8 minutes. Samuel...

Paul Hindemith (1895-1963) Born November 16, 1895, Hanau (near Frankfurt) Died December 28, 1963, Frankfurt. Symphonie Mathis der Maler Composed 1933-1935 First Performance: March 12, 1934 in Berlin conducted by Wilhelm Furtwängler conducting the Berlin Philharmonic. Instrumentation: 2 flutes (second doubling piccolo), 2 oboes (second doubling English Horn), 2 clarinets in A, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 2 ...

Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893) Born May 7, 1840 in Kamsko-Votkinsk, Russia. Died November 6, 1893 in St. Petersburg, Russia. Symphony No. 6 in B Minor, Op. 74 Pathétique Composed February 16 to August 31, 1893. First Performance: October 28, 1893 in the Hall of Nobles, St. Petersburg with the composer conducting the Russian Musical Society Orchestra. Instrumentation: 3 flutes, piccolo, 2 oboes, 2 c...

Arnold Schoenberg (1874-1951) Born: September 13, 1874 in Vienna Died: July 13, 1951 in Brentwood Park, Los Angeles, California Verklärte Nacht (Transfigured Night), Op. 4 Completed: December 1, 1899. Arranged for string orchestra in 1917 and revised in 1943. First performance: March 18, 1902 by the Rosé Quartet with an extra violist and cellist at the Vienna Tonkünstlerverein. Instrumentation: originally a...

Sir William Walton (1902-1983) Born March 29, 1902, in Oldham, Lancashire Died  March 8 1983, on the Island of Ischia, Italy Symphony No. 1 Composed 1932-1935 First Performances: First three movements only: 3 December 1934. Queen's Hall, London. London Symphony Orchestra, Sir Hamilton Harty conductor. First complete performance: 6 November 1935. Queen's Hall, London. BBC Symphony Orchestra, ...