Adagio for Strings, Samuel Barber 1939

Samuel Barber (1910-1981), a fine American composer, is best known for this romantic contemporary piece. I play this Adagio about 60+ beats a minute, while the great American conductor Bernstein (and many others) has the NY Philharmonic do it at 40 beats per minute. Why? When in a great concert hall with much reverberation & a large string orchestra, make every note sing out with emotion & it works keeping the audience interested. When in a small dry sounding room with an instrument with small reeds as compared to the much longer strings of a large string orchestra, this slow tempo doesn't work. Furthermore, the tune is called Adagio, not, Largo. Also my accordion is an air guzzler & correct bellowsing is impossible at the 40 beats per second. Even at the 60 beats per second I had to make several weird bellows changes. On the whole I think it worked out quite good. I like this piece for its flowing melodies which create colorful & clashing harmonies & the great climax followed by relaxation.

[@williamnye478]

Sounds very different on an accordion. I like it! Well done!

Very good!