Samuel Barber was an influential American composer born on March 9, 1910, in West Chester, Pennsylvania, and he passed away on January 23, 1981, in New York City. Renowned for his expressive and lyrical compositions, Barber became one of the most celebrated composers of the mid-20th century. His music is characterized by its adherence to traditional 19th-century harmonic language and formal structure, though he incorporated elements of modernism after 1940.

Barber's education at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, where he studied under Rosario Scalero, and his long-term mentorship with his uncle, composer Sidney Homer, significantly shaped his musical style. Despite his modern influences, Barber largely avoided the experimental trends of his time, favoring emotional expression and lyricism.

His works gained international acclaim, with many becoming staples in the classical repertoire. Notably, his "Adagio for Strings" (1936) remains a cornerstone of the orchestral concert repertoire. Barber's compositions earned him two Pulitzer Prizes for Music: for the opera "Vanessa" (1956–1957) and the "Concerto for Piano and Orchestra" (1962). His "Knoxville: Summer of 1915" (1947) is another widely performed piece, setting a prose text by James Agee for soprano and orchestra.

Barber's output was predominantly vocal music, inspired by his early career as a baritone. His art songs, choral works, and songs for voice and orchestra constitute two-thirds of his compositions. Some of his notable songs include "Sure on this shining night" and the song cycle "Hermit Songs" (1953).

Throughout his career, Barber's works were commissioned and performed by prestigious ensembles and artists, including the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Philadelphia Orchestra, and the New York Philharmonic, among others. He also occasionally conducted performances and recordings of his works and taught composition at the Curtis Institute from 1939 to 1942.

Barber was in a long-term relationship with fellow composer Gian Carlo Menotti, who wrote the libretto for "Vanessa." Barber's legacy is marked by his significant contributions to 20th-century classical music, with nearly all of his compositions recorded by the time of his death.