Samuel Barber's Capricorn Concerto for flute, oboe and trumpet with strings is an important though seldom performed work. The concerto is teeming with performance choices that are indicative of both historical and contemporary influences. At present, there are limited resources available to performers regarding Capricorn. The first section of this study presents an historical and contextual examination of Capricorn both in terms of Barber's own compositional output and that of his influences and contemporaries. The second section includes a performance analysis of the work, while the third section includes an analysis of existing recordings. Implications for the performer are outlined in last section. The guide provides performers with pertinent background, analytical and performance information in order to facilitate informed, high-level performance.

In this study the author develops a methodology for the study of the Samuel Barber Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, Opus 14 by analyzing the stylistic components of the work, presenting important pedagogical principles, and offering an array of performance practice techniques. The primary tool used to formulate the methodology was a survey of exceptional violinists and pedagogues. Twenty-six professional violinists responded to a survey that asked their suggestions for preparing and performing five specific excerpts from the Concerto. The compilation of the responses provides an invaluable guide for violinists who are studying or teaching this staple of the instrument’s repertoire. / School of Music

The music of Samuel Barber is well known in the vocal, piano, and string literature; however, little of his chamber music involves woodwinds, and in particular, only one work involves the woodwind quintet. Summer Music, originally commissioned as a septet, developed after the premiere of the work into the woodwind quintet version, with the assistance of the New York Woodwind Quintet. Barber is considered a contemporary .romantic. composer, evidenced through his use of lyricism. Summer Music, a standard in the woodwind quintet literature, should be included in every professional flutist's repertoire. The intent of this dissertation is to consider Barber's use of lyricism as a determinant of the form of Summer Music, as well as to compare the differences between the manuscript and the published edition.