Instrumentation Two flutes and piccolo , two oboes , two clarinets , two bassoons , four horns , two trumpets , three trombones , tuba , timpani , bass drum , vibraphone ( with bow ), crotales ( with bow ), tam-tam , suspended sizzle cymbal , and strings
Samuel Barber
Born March 9 , 1910 in West Chester , Pennsylvania Died January 23 , 1981 in New York , New York
ANDROMACHE ’ S FAREWELL , FOR SOPRANO AND ORCHESTRA [ 1962 ]
The story of Andromache is told by Euripides in The Trojan Women , produced in 415 B . C . The devoted wife of Prince Hector of Troy , she warned her husband in vain against getting involved in the Trojan War . As the War took over their lives , her royal father and her seven brothers were slain by the marauding Achilles , her mother was kidnapped and held for a huge ransom , Troy fell to its enemies , her son Astyanax was slain by the Greeks , and she was swept off to be the slave and concubine of Achilles ’ son Neoptolemus .
Samuel Barber was drawn to the psychological intensity of Classical tales . He was , moreover , opinionated about the translations of such works , and for his Andromache project he enlisted the American poet John Patrick Creagh to prepare a new English text based on Euripides . He set the scene through a prose introduction at the head of the printed score : “[ Andromache ] has been given as a slave-wife to the son of Achilles . She has just been told that she cannot take her little son with her in the ship . For it has been decreed by the Greeks that a hero ’ s son must not be allowed to live and that he is to be hurled over the battlements of Troy . She bids him farewell .”
Barber was commissioned to write Andromache ’ s Farewell to be spotlighted in the inaugural season of Lincoln Center , where the New York Philharmonic unveiled it in April 1963 with soprano Martina Arroyo as soloist . Barber provides a vivid musical underpinning for this condensed drama , emphasizing the sense of dignity that the title character displays throughout her ordeals . He crafted certain of the movement ’ s details specifically to Arroyo ’ s strengths , including sudden , hard-to-negotiate shifts from piano to forte . “ Without the drama ,”
THE PERFECT BOOK TO ENJOY WITH YOUR FAMILY !
AVAILABLE AT AMAZON , BARNES & NOBLE AND OTHER BOOK RETAILERS
We Understand the Power of a Great Story
Baltimore Creative Studio is the content and creative shop at Baltimore magazine . Our team of award-winning writers , designers , marketing strategists , and digital producers know how to connect with the most desirable audiences .
CUSTOM PUBLICATIONS
CONTENT
Libby , a Cavalier King Charles spaniel , loves to travel with her best human buddy , Pat . Inspiring and informative , in this book Pat helps Libby tell the story of Libby ’ s Great Adventures as they visit national monuments in Washington , DC ; historic towns in Maryland and national parks . Libby presents her point of view and shares historical facts about each place . There are photos of Libby as she visits each site .
xoxo , Pat Harvey & Libby
WEBSITES
DIGITAL MARKETING
SEE OUR WORK creativestudio . baltimoremagazine . com
SEP-OCT 2023 / OVERTURE 35