BARBARA HARBACH

• Barbara Harbach: Phantom - VII. Polyhedral Bell

[ * * * * ] “In these pages harpsichordist/composer Barbara Harbach’s music has been received as reserved…While listening to [Harbach] I am often enthralled… [Phantom of the Dreams’ Origin is] fascinating music, and again, one hardly wants to leave it while it is playing. [The Sounds of St. Louis is] well-played by the St. Louis Low Brass Collective, all members of the wonderful St. Louis Symphony…  the strongest piece here, the short song cycle Harriet’s Story for soprano, piano, and violin, is quite the stunner, with soprano Marlissa Hudson delivering a splendid performance. The music is affecting and lyrical, passionate and versatile… Harbach is well worth hearing… recorded with great consistency and presence.”

Steven Ritter, Audiophile Audition [January 2014]

“Harbach’s music astonished me for its heavy reliance on the lyric and the beautifully (and cogently) framed melodic line. I could listen to her music for hours.”

American Record Guide

“Harbach has distinguished herself as one of the preeminent American composers of any generation.”

All Music Guide

“Nothing short of brilliant”

Musical America

Barbara Harbach has a large catalog of compositions, including symphonies, opera, musicals,
film scores, modern ballets and choral anthems; works for piano, harpsichord and organ; works for
chamber ensemble, brass ensemble and string orchestra. She is involved in the research, editing,
publication and recording of music by 18th century keyboard composers, as well as historical and
contemporary women composers. In June, 2009, her musical Booth! was premiered in New York City, where it also won a competition at the Tisch School of the Arts. O Pioneers! – An American Opera was premiered in October 2009 at the University of Missouri at St. Louis. Her work is available on CD through MSR Classics, Naxos Records, Gasparo Records, Kingdom Records, Albany Records, Northeastern Records and Hester Park, with music scores published by Robert King, Elkan-Vogel, Augsburg Fortress, Art of Sound Music, Encore Music Publishers, Agape Music and Vivace Press.

An active performer, Harbach has toured extensively as both a concert organist and harpsichordist,
giving lively recitals that have captured the imagination of many American composers. The body of
work written for and dedicated to her is substantial. She also hosted the television music program
Palouse Performance, seen weekly throughout the Inland Northwest. Barbara Harbach initiated Women in the Arts, a celebration of the achievements of women creators. In recognition of her efforts, she was the recipient in 2006 of the Arts Education Award from the Missouri Arts Council, Missouri Citizen for the Arts Award, Yellow Rose Award from the Zonta International Club, Faculty Excellence Award from the University of Missouri-St. Louis’ College of Fine Arts and Communication and in 2007 the Hellenic Spirit Foundation Award. In May 2011, she received the Grand Center Award for “successful working artist” and in December 2011 the YWCA Leaders of Distinction Award in the Arts.

Currently professor of music at the University of Missouri in St. Louis, Harbach holds academic
degrees from Pennsylvania State University (BA), Yale University (MMA), and Eastman School of
Music (DMA), and in Frankfurt at the Hochschule für Musik (Konzertdiplom). In 2002, she received an
honorary doctorate in music, honoris causa, from Wilmington College in Ohio for her achievements
as a composer, performer, editor and publisher. [ www.barbaraharbach.com ]

Harbach has performed with members of the St. Louis Chamber Players since she came to St. Louis in 2003, both as a composer and performer. The Players are members of the St. Louis
Symphony Orchestra, faculty of University of Missouri, St. Louis, and other area musicians.

American soprano Marlissa Hudson is at home both on the operatic and concert stage. Making her
professional debut while a student, Hudson performed “Summertime” from Porgy and Bess with the
Baltimore Symphony Pops Orchestra under Marvin Hamlisch. She later performed the role of Bess
with Union Avenue Opera in St. Louis. As a concert soloist, Hudson has also collaborated with the
St. Louis Symphony, National Philharmonic Orchestra, St. Louis Civic Orchestra, Prince George’s
Philharmonic, Choralis, and many other ensembles. Highly active as a recitalist, she has performed
in Colorado, Georgia, Missouri and the greater Washington, D.C. area. Hudson received her formal
training at Duke University and the Peabody Institute. She earned awards for music at both schools,
including a Peabody Career Development Grant.

The St. Louis Low Brass Collective, which features trombone, baritone horn, euphonium and tuba,
presents concerts and events that are of particular interest to low-brass musicians. The performers
are from the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and area music teachers and free-lance musicians.
[ www.stllbc.org ]
BARBARA HARBACH
INCANTATA for chamber ensemble (2011)
I. Perplexities
II. Nocturne
III. Ireland Remembered
IV. Bitter-Sweet
V. Coda

HARRIET’S STORY for soprano, violin and piano (2011)
I. Frontier Slave
II. No Reason to Learn
III. Sister Harriet Tubman

PHANTOM OF THE DREAMS’ ORIGIN for chamber ensemble (2012)
I. Procession
II. Lamentation
III. Semaphores
IV. Desolation
V. Deprived
VI. Tranquility
VII. Polyhedral Bell
VIII.Spinning Mill of Nocturnal Repose

THE SOUNDS OF ST. LOUIS – A SUITE IN ONE MOVEMENT (2011)




MSR Classics