Samuel Barber - Sure On This Shining Night arr. for Choir & Piano (1940)

Samuel Osborne Barber II (March 9, 1910 - January 23, 1981) was an American composer of orchestral, opera, choral, and piano music. He is one of the most celebrated composers of the 20th century: music critic Donal Henahan stated that "Probably no other American composer has ever enjoyed such early, such persistent and such long-lasting acclaim."
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Sure on this Shining Night arr. for chorus, Op. 33, No. 3 (1940)
Librettist: James Agee
The Joyful Company of Singers conducted by Peter Broadbent
Anthony Saunders, piano
Description in Library of Congress
"Sure on this Shining Night" is the third song in the collection entitled Four Songs which was published by G. Schirmer in 1940. Unlike his earlier collection of Three Songs, op. 10, in which all three songs are set to poetry by James Joyce, Barber's Four Songs, op. 13 features the texts of four different poets. The text for "Sure on this Shining Night" was based on an untitled lyric from James Agee's first published collection of poems, Permit Me Voyage (1934). Barber eventually met and formed a lasting friendship with the Pulitzer Prize-winning writer, but it was not until after he set Agee's Knoxville: Summer of 1915 in 1948.
The brilliance of "Sure on this Shining Night" lies in its long, seamlessly lyrical canonical lines, initiated by the voice and followed immediately by the piano. The song's structure resembles that of songs crafted by 19th-century masters such as Johannes Brahms and Robert Schumann, especially in the dexterous use of canonic principals (in which Brahms excelled) and in the use of the pulsating chordal-style accompaniment, as found in Schmann's "Ich grolle nicht" (from Dichterliebe, 1840). "Sure on this Shining Night" has also been used by voice teachers, including Marinka Gurewich, to instruct singers in the art of producing a pianissimo cantilena vocal line.
No doubt the popularity of "Sure on the Shining Night" was amplified by Barber's frequent retelling of an anecdote that directly involved the song. In 1979, Barber had just moved into a new apartment in New York City and needed to call home. He was trying to reach Gian Carlo Menotti, whom he knew was visiting the apartment. However, upon trying to dial the number from the telephone booth, Barber realized that he could not recall the newly established phone number. The composer contacted the operator for assistance who initially refused to provide Barber with the number, but confessed that she possessed a "weakness" for "Sure on this Shining Night" and requested that Barber sing the song's opening phrase to confirm his identity. Barber complied and was rewarded with his telephone number!
Anecdotes aside, Barber must have appreciated the song's warm reception for nearly thirty years later he arranged "Sure on this Shining Night" (along with "A Nun Takes the Veil," also from Four Songs, op. 13) for chorus. The arrangements were extremely popular and sold over a hundred thousand copies. To date, "Sure on this Shining Night" remains a favorite among solo singers and choral ensembles alike.

[@zuzannawisniewska4464]

Who listening to this beautiful composition by Barber in 2024, I wish you happiness and health ...from Fort Worth, Texas

[@SateleShantheSWTORFan-Ocean]

This hurts me emotionally. I am going to sing this for a competition. I miss you Grandma.

[@joybrickman8552]

I hope your competition went well. This song hits me in my elderly heart as well.

[@ilcanaledeifilm2963]

❤️

[@bobbylovejoy]

Let's also give love to James Agee!

[@minigobro6257]

The last “on this shining night” is my favorite part it makes me feel so good inside everytime I hear it

[@jnathanj883]

This arrangement of this music is a touchstone for me, a place of rest in times of trouble. Thank you for putting it here. It's competent and clear, and I love having the score to view, (don't know when our own choral singing will resume. . .)

[@LaineyTsang]

❤❤❤

[@saetmusic]

This choral arrangement is beautiful! I really like it more than any of the solo performances! Pure Barber! Nice to be able to follow the score too!

[@ValkyRiver]

Wow! Our school is singing this. -- I am a shadow

[@ytcarol]

Oh my gosh, this is gorgeous. First time hearing this piece. I just love following the score and voices - thanks for that. Reminds me of former days in the church choir as an alto and sometimes tenor.

[@DeborahMcIntosh-i1k]

Beautiful music.

[@alvarogarciabarbosa3199]

Tender and sweet!! Barber Excellent composer.

[@gwendelgado8435]

I did this version in my choir absolutely beautiful

[@brendatighe392]

Beautiful arrangement, excellent performance!

[@Broadmaestro1]

Thank you! A ling time ago now, but such a lovely piece.

[@aureliomega3268]

Como pude vivir sin escuchar esta pieza antes... recien descubierta... es... completa...

[@annaannaof716]

Beautiful composition and performance ♫♪

[@cegr76]

Splendid.

[@rociovillacorta697]

Cuanta belleza ! casi podria acabar aqui el tiempo forever

[@frogmouth]

the most beautiful song. deceptively simple .

[@ValkyRiver]

Deceptively simple. (ValkyRiver left hand alone version)

[@riittasalonen8941]

Divine !

[@turbojellyfish2091]

As far as I'm concerned the "one true arrangement" of Sure on this Shining Night will always be Barber's for solo male voice and piano, but this is pretty amazing. Edit: like 5 minutes after I said this I watched kzbin.info/www/bejne/bGOnnoiCpbqXnqc which is the best female rendition I've ever heard and forces me to withdraw my sexist specifier.

[@frogmouth]

i like the choral versions better. That said Barbara Bonney is superb . also like Roberta Alexander with the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic such a wonderful song

[@ValkyRiver]

I performed this on piano with left hand alone and dressed as a shadow.

[@kimbycurtismatthewswinstion]

I was singing this song in chorus when I was in 8th grade

[@ValkyRiver]

A singing shadow?

[@diariodiunmusicistamusicologo]

Bellissimo!!!

[@ValkyRiver]

I am a shadow

[@herodupasihombing8161]

On thisss shinin night....

[@dustythe2nd188]

Ode to my friend Faron. I lover him. Dusty the 2nd.

[@sallysumpner3604]

Viking song Coleridge taylor

[@francescaviceconti3770]

lyrics from poem:Permit Me Voyage by James Agee

[@bobbylovejoy]

Grazie, Francesca.

[@elisa-ke7xe]

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