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20th century American composer, best known for Adagio for Strings, vocal version Agnus Dei.
From the age of six he played the cello and tried to write musical compositions. He revealed his goal to become a composer in a letter to his mother at the age of nine. He was sent by his parents to learn the piano and by the age of eleven he was playing the organ in the local church. Mr. Barber also had a strong voice and wrote pieces for vocal performance. He was supported by his uncle the composer Sidney Homer and S. Barber from 1924. studied at the Deaf Institute of Music in Philadelphia. The studies took 10 years. Under the guidance of professor Rosario Scalero, S. Barberis studied theory, orchestration, counterpoint, and analyzed the most significant works of classical music. During his school years, he composed the well-known songs "The Daisies", "Bessie Bobtail", "With rue my heart is laden", which were published in 1936. as the composer's opus no. 2.

Since 1928 S. Barber traveled a lot, visited Europe. A violin sonata (not extant) composed in Italy won him his first award from Columbia University. After returning from his travels, the composer composed his first opus from a sonata for violin and a serenade for string quartet. His friend was fellow Italian Gian Karlas Menotis, with whom S. Barber collaborated almost all his life. 1930 S. Barber completed his first piano concerto (not preserved). He became famous in 1931. overture "The School for Scandal" (The School for Scandal). in 1932 in the summer he composed the "Cello Sonata", which he dedicated to his teacher Rosario Scalero. It was the last work of S. Barberi created under the supervision of R. Scaler.

in 1935 The conductor of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, Werner Jansen, organized a concert of S. Barber's works, which was broadcast on the "NBC" radio program. S. Barber himself took part in the performance, played and sang. For a time he sang baritone for NBC radio programs. in 1935 he won the "Prize of Rome" and a scholarship for two years of studies at the American Academy in Rome. At that time, S. Barberis created a one-movement symphony (op. no. 9), music for six J. for Joyce's poems and "String Quartet in B minor" (op. no. 11). The second part of the latter for "Adaji's Strings" became undoubtedly the most popular and best-known work of S. Barber. The premiere of the work to the general public took place in 1938. November 5 on "NBC" radio, it was performed by the "NBC" symphony orchestra under the direction of one of the most famous conductors, A. Toskanini. 1939−1942 S. Barberis taught composition at the Kurtis Institute. in 1942 prepared "Second Essay for Orchestra" (op. no. 15). He was called up for military service (the Second World War took place), did military training, and wrote pieces for the army (Commando March, 1943). in 1946 created the ballet Medea (Op. No. 23, originally titled The Serpent's Heart), which was performed by the Martha Graham Company at Columbia University. in 1947 he created Knoxville: 1915. summer" (op. no. 24) commissioned by soprano Eleanor Steber. Another notable work was in 1949. based on the Piano Sonata in E minor (Op. No. 26) performed by Vladimir Horowitz.

In the second half of his life, S. Barberis was a widely recognized composer, almost all of his works were commissioned by famous performers or institutions. He studied to become a conductor, but these ambitions were short-lived. in 1958 he was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for the opera "Vanessa" and in 1963 - the second time for the "Piano Concerto". in 1966 S. Barberis prepared the opera "Antony and Cleopatra" for the opening of the Metropolitan Opera Theater season. After 1966 the composer struggled with alcoholism and depression. He lived in Santa Catarina, Italy and New York, USA. in 1976 awarded the Gold Medal for Music from the American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters.