Barbara Harbach

I am a morning person and start work, whether composing, rehearsing, preparing syllabi/tests, or proofing an article or manuscript, early in the…

— Barbara Harbach

Men have been in the forefront of music for centuries, and they have written glorious music, loved and appreciated by many. In…

— Barbara Harbach

I played for my first church service when I was nine years old. I was sufficiently tall to be able to reach…

— Barbara Harbach

Helmut Walcha was a gifted organist, improviser, and composer! He would play Evensong every week at his church for free, the Dreikönigskirche…

— Barbara Harbach

In some ways, it is difficult for contemporary composers to find an audience. Both men and women would love a culture that…

— Barbara Harbach

As all nocturnal creatures, I have a tendency to wander about during the night, embracing and relishing in its mysteriousness, unexplained sounds,…

— Barbara Harbach

I should mention that I took piano lessons beginning when I was four. My mother was my first teacher, and it was…

— Barbara Harbach

I thought I wanted to be a performing and recording artist, and played many recitals and performances beginning in the 1970s. In…

— Barbara Harbach

The culture of suppressing women composers and performers goes centuries back in Germany and other countries. Just think of Fanny Mendelssohn and…

— Barbara Harbach

For some reason I seem to absorb the landscape and cultures where I am planted. A State Divided Symphony was inspired by…

— Barbara Harbach

For my qualifying concert, Helmut Walcha would not coach Charles-Marie Widor or any American compositions. In his defense, his forte was Germanic…

— Barbara Harbach

I have written six symphonies, they are smaller-scale works. I seem to emit my themes, work them out, combine and intertwine them,…

— Barbara Harbach

The first part of my career was indeed as a performer and recording artist, and I am still keenly involved with both.…

— Barbara Harbach

Thankfully, it is getting better for women composers. We now have five women Pulitzer Prize winners in music since 1983: Ellen Taaffe…

— Barbara Harbach

I do have to admit that teaching, composing, and editing is a bit easier than sitting at the organ or harpsichord for…

— Barbara Harbach

I was fortunate enough to take classes with Mel Powell at Yale University as well as a semester with Sam Adler at…

— Barbara Harbach

Is there a gender gap in the music industry? It is true that there are more professional male music creators than female.…

— Barbara Harbach

Who can forget the music of the French composer Germaine Tailleferre? These are just a few composers whose aesthetic ideals we all…

— Barbara Harbach

In spite of all the cultural restrictions, in spite of marital or political difficulties, a strong woman continues to create and makes…

— Barbara Harbach

I think I was drawn to the harpsichord because of the similarity of touch between the harpsichord and the tracker organ. When…

— Barbara Harbach

As all creative people, we have our optimistic side and a darker side. Yes, I would say that I am more optimistic…

— Barbara Harbach