Samuel Barber (1910 – 1981)
Mutations from Bach is a short sequence of transformations of the plain-song Christe, du Lamm Gottes (Christ, Thou Lamb of God). It is first heard as harmonized by Joachim Decker (1604); then in the harmonization of J.S. Bach from Cantata No. 23. It is also heard in canon at the twelfth (i.e., the choral prelude No. 21 from Bach’s Orgelbuchlein). A quotation of the recitative section Ach, gehe nich voruber from Bach’s Cantata No. 23 appears next. Finally, the work concludes with a restatement of the old version of the chorale.
– program note from score
Year: 1968
Duration: c. 5:55
Publisher: G Schirmer, Inc
3 Trumpets in B flat
4 Horns
3 Trombones
Tuba
Timpani
Recordings
- 1976 – Contrasts in Brass (Locke Brass Consort)
- 1985 – Brassworks (United States Air Force Band of the Rockies)
- 1991 – hr brass (Brass Ensemble of the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra)
- 1991 – American Brass (London Symphony Orchestra Brass)
- 1992 – From the Steeples and the Mountains (London Gabrieli Brass Ensemble)
- 1994 – Music for Brass and Percussion 1 (Kensington Symphonic Brass)
- 1998 – Spirits of Fire (Summit Brass)
- 2004 – Samuel Barber (Royal Scottish National Orchestra)
- 2006 – Meisterstücke (Grassauer Brass Ensemble)
- ???? – The Brass Dream Team, Michael Tilkin conductor