Honens @ Home: Yoon-Jee Kim performs Barber

Composed in 1953 and translated from Gaelic or Latin poems, Samuel Barber's Hermit Songs Op. 29 ranks among the great song cycles of the twentieth century. Barber was naturally drawn to vocal expression in his compositions. Upon discovering the verses, he said: "I have come across some poems of the 10th century, translated into Modern English by various people, and am making a song cycle of them. These were extraordinary men, monks or hermits or what not and they wrote these little poems. I find them very direct, unspoiled, and often curiously contemporaneous in feeling."In this excerpt you hear two songs from the cycle, The Monk and His Cat and The Desire for Hermitage, performed at the 2015 Honens International Piano Competition by Semifinalist Yoon-Jee Kim and soprano Isabel Bayrakdarian. - Watch the video edition of this excerpt at honens.com/home.

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The Honens Piano Podcast aims to spark and enhance your appreciation and understanding of all things piano through outstanding performances by Honens Laureates (winners) combined with educational and thought provoking conversation about the music. Whether you are a classical music novice or connoisseur—this podcast is for you!