DESCRIPTION:
the Petrie School of Music at CONVERSE COLLEGE, A Senior Recital of Mari Hashimoto
This concertowas Barber's first major commission and was from a Mr.Sumuel Fels. The work was to be dedicated to Iso Briselli,Mr.Fels' son. Barber took the commission money and enjoyed the summer of 1939 in Switzerland, where he composed the first two movements. He finished the concerto in July 1940 when he returned to the US, but neither Mr. Fels nor Mr.Briselli approved of the piece because of the difficulties of the third movement. As a resolt, Iso Briselli did not perform its premiere and gave up the rights to the piece. Instead, Albert Spalding with Eugene Ormandy conducting the Philadelphia Orchestra gave the premiere in 1941.