Seymour Barab (January 9 1921 – June 28 2014) was an American composer, cellist, organist and pianist. He is best known for his operas for young audiences, particularly the fairy‑tale works Chanticleer (1956) and Little Red Riding Hood (1962), which have become staples of children's opera repertoire. Barab also performed as a member of the Philip Glass Ensemble and held academic positions at several American conservatories.
Early life and education
Barab was born in Chicago, Illinois, to Polish‑immigrant parents Samuel Barab and Leah Yablunky. He received his first piano lessons from his aunt, Gertrude Yablunky, and began studying the cello while attending Lane Technical High School (1935–1939), a school that required students to play an orchestral instrument. During this period he formed friendships with future composers Ben Weber and George Perle; together they founded Chicago’s New Music Group in 1938, which presented contemporary works including Béla Bartók’s First String Quartet.
Performance career
After high school Barab embarked on a professional orchestral career, serving as cellist with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and later with ensembles in Cleveland, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Portland, the Chicago Civic Orchestra, and the Brooklyn Philharmonic. During World War II he served in the United States Navy as a musician stationed at the Philadelphia Naval Yard, where he also studied cello under Gregor Piatigorsky at the Curtis Institute of Music. Post‑war, Barab performed for broadcasting companies (ABC, CBS), joined the Galimir String Quartet, co‑founded New York Pro Musica Antiqua (playing viola da gamba), and participated in the New Music Quartet of New York.
Compositional career and musical style
Barab began composing while on a G.I. Bill‑funded stay in Paris (1950–1951). Influenced by his work as a recording producer with René Liebowitz, he initially wrote songs before expanding into larger forms. Returning to the United States, he taught cello at Black Mountain College and later composition at Rutgers University, the New England Conservatory of Music, and other institutions.
His operatic output focused on accessible, tonal music for children’s audiences. Chanticleer (one‑act, 1956) premiered in Aspen, Colorado, to favorable reviews praising its humor and tunefulness. Subsequent works included A Game of Chance (1957), Little Red Riding Hood (1962)—the most frequently performed American opera for young audiences—The Little Prince, Cinderella, and others. Barab often wrote his own libretti, employing stagecraft that demystified potentially frightening elements (e.g., showing the wolf’s makeup being applied). His later operas, such as Phillip Marshall (nominated for a Pulitzer Prize), continued to blend narrative clarity with melodic accessibility.
Later life and legacy
Barab remained active as a composer and performer until his death in Manhattan at age 93. In 1998 he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Opera Association. His works continue to be programmed by school‑based opera companies and youth ensembles, preserving his reputation as a leading figure in American children’s opera.
References
- Wikipedia entry “Seymour Barab,” accessed via textise service (2024).
- Fox, Margalit. “Seymour Barab Dies at 93; Composer of Impish Opera.” The New York Times, July 18 2014.
- Barab’s personal website and archival collections (Rutgers University, Library of Congress).