Capricorn Concerto
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Samuel Barber's Capricorn Concerto (op. 21), completed 8 September 1944 is a chamber piece for flute, oboe, trumpet and strings. It was premiered by Saidenberg Little Symphony at Town Hall 8 October 1944. It lasts approximately 14 min.
The concerto was written when Barber was still serving in the army but at a point of time when he was granted time and freedom to compose. Hence the piece was composed in and named after his home "Capricorn" acquired in 1943. So named for the fantastic light it got during the winter. The music is not programatic though it is suggested that each member of the Capricorn household is represented by a theme, one for each movement.
The Capricorn Concerto is designed like a Baroque concerto grosso and scored with the same instruments as Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 2: three solo instruments --- flute, oboe and trumpet - and strings. The piece is a departure from Barber's previous language, being neither atonal nor polytonal, but written in a contemporary tonal style. Rhythmically nervous with frequent shifts of tempi. It may be characterized as neo-classical and appears to be influenced by Stravinsky despite Barber having some reservations about this composer.
The work has three movements:
- Allegro ma non troppo
- Allegretto
- Allegro con brio
