This documentary about the great American composer Samuel Barber airs tonight at 8 on WHYY Philadelphia, with a repeat on 7/21 at noon. This will mark the world broadcast premiere, and the coverage area includes the composer’s hometown of West Chester, PA. Barber studied composition at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. His “Adagio for Strings,” recognized the world over, is one of the most famous pieces written by an American composer, the introspective flip side of “The Stars and Stripes Forever.” Like so much of Barber’s music, it is revealing not only of the American character, but the broader human condition.

You can also view the documentary here, on demand:

Thanks again to filmmaker H. Paul Moon for making the trip in to WWFM – The Classical Network yesterday to share some of his insights into the composer and his experiences in the undertaking of this worthy project, “Samuel Barber: Absolute Beauty.”