Samuel Barber (1910-1981) was an American composer whose lyrical intensity made him one of the most widely loved figures in twentieth-century music. Born in West Chester, Pennsylvania, he studied at the Curtis Institute and showed exceptional gifts as both composer and singer.

His best-known work is the Adagio for Strings, adapted from the slow movement of his String Quartet, but his catalogue is far broader. It includes the opera Vanessa, concertos, songs, piano music, choral works and orchestral scores such as Knoxville: Summer of 1915.

Barber’s music is tonal, expressive and superbly shaped, often combining long melodic lines with a refined harmonic language. At a time when many composers turned toward severe modernism, Barber continued to trust the eloquence of song.

His reputation has sometimes been narrowed by the fame of one piece, but Barber was a composer of impressive range and discipline. His work gives American music a voice of elegance, melancholy and emotional candour.