Composer

:

Samuel Barber

Genre

:

Chamber

Style

:

Variations

Compose Date

:

1967

Average_duration

:

5:29

"Mutations from Bach" is a composition for solo piano by Samuel Barber. It was composed in 1968 and premiered on March 10, 1969, by pianist John Browning at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. The piece consists of six movements, each based on a different theme from the music of Johann Sebastian Bach. The first movement, "Chorale Prelude," is based on Bach's chorale prelude "Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland." Barber transforms the original melody into a series of variations, exploring different harmonies and textures. The second movement, "Fugue," is based on the fugue from Bach's Prelude and Fugue in C minor, BWV 847. Barber takes the original subject and develops it in a variety of ways, including inversion and augmentation. The third movement, "Canons," is based on the Canon in D major from Bach's Goldberg Variations. Barber creates a series of canons, each with a different interval between the voices, and explores the different possibilities of counterpoint. The fourth movement, "Fantasia," is based on the Fantasia in C minor from Bach's Prelude and Fugue in C minor, BWV 847. Barber takes the opening motif of the original and develops it into a virtuosic display of pianistic technique. The fifth movement, "Fugue on a Theme by Handel," is based on the theme from Handel's Keyboard Suite in B-flat major, HWV 434. Barber transforms the theme into a fugue, exploring different harmonies and textures. The final movement, "Chorale Finale," is based on Bach's chorale "Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme." Barber transforms the original melody into a series of variations, culminating in a grand finale that brings the piece to a close. Overall, "Mutations from Bach" is a virtuosic and highly expressive work that showcases Barber's mastery of counterpoint and pianistic technique. The piece is a testament to Barber's deep admiration for Bach's music and his ability to transform and reimagine it in new and exciting ways.

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