Andrew Schenck was well known in this area during the 1970s. He was the young associate conductor of the Baltimore Symphony with the flying blond hair who conducted many pops, children's and run-out concerts. Then he moved away, as assistant and associate conductors are wont to do.

Mr. Schenck moved back a few years ago and lived quietly, barely visible in Baltimore's musical life, but flying out to conduct in such places as New Zealand and Slovenia. Suddenly, after recordings made with London and New Zealand orchestras, Mr. Schenck was leading a worldwide revival of the American composer Samuel Barber. He was in demand by the world's leading orchestras.

A Barber recording by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, conducted last October by Mr. Schenck just after learning he had incurable cancer, came out a few days before he died this week at 52. He was given time to make major contributions, but his untimely death denied us more.