Piano Sonata

The Piano Sonata in E-flat minor, Op. 26 was written by Samuel Barber in 1949 for the twenty-fifth anniversary of the League of Composers. Commissioned by Irving Berlin and Richard Rodgers, it was first performed by Vladimir Horowitz and has remained a popular concert staple since. History In 1950, the League of Composers, a society aimed at promoting new American works, met for the twenty-fifth anniversary of its inception. Samuel Barber set to work writing a piano sonata for the occasion, and requested Vladimir Horowitz to perform it. His demands were met, and the work was received with overwhelming critical acclaim. Funding for the League of Composers commission was donated by Irving Berlin and Richard Rodgers. Horowitz premiered the Sonata in Havana, Cuba, on December 9, 1949, followed by performances in Cleveland and Washington, DC, before presenting the work at Carnegie Hall on January 23, 1950. Structure The sonata is in four movements, and usually takes twenty minutes to perform: Allegro energico Allegro vivace e leggero Adagio mesto Fuga: Allegro con spirito