I believe we played this as our slow piece in marching band this last year, except it was re-written for band of course. It was so beautiful. My band teacher is all about playing symphonic pieces even if we are on the field. I wish i could have seen it played out by the strings.. I would have enjoyed it.
It is much harder to play right that it sounds - a very difficult piece.
There are acutally a number of pieces like that that could envoke the same sense of beauty, if you like the Barber Adagio. Nimrod from the Elgar Enigma Variations. The Second Movement of the Mozart Clarinet Concerto.
Barber's other pieces that were alluded to - like his Violin Concerto and his two "Essays for Orchestra" are indeed more "modern" sounding, but they are very cool pieces - Orchestras love them - and also very difficult.
But I agree, the Barber Adagio is wonderful. Sorry I missed hearing this performance.
I've always loved that piece. A couple of years ago I was in our state capitol building. While I was there a high school vocal choir was performing in the rotunda. They "sang" an a copula version of the Barber Adagio. Everyone within earshot stopped in their tracks and listened. I've been there during lots of school choir performances and had never seen a reaction like that one. It was a "hair on the back of your neck" moment.
Evil Genius, Mouse House Mama...I adore the cello, which is a big part of this piece, what a rich and soulful instument. Geoff_M your description sounds heavenly, I wish I could have heard that. Galahad, I am looking into the others you mentioned and am listening to Serenade for Strings right now, beautiful! Thanks for responding, everyone, and sharing your love of Adagio with me!
Yes... great piece of music! Of course, I always have a little tear in my eye cuz it's used a lot in the movie "Platoon." But it is one of my favorites for sure!
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