One of the most popular works for unaccompanied cello is arguably Bach's Suite No. 1, with its sweeping, melodic prelude.
But what if that delicious cello part were reworked for solo horn? Can you hear it?
You will on Sunday, when Johanna Lundy makes her debut with the St. Andrew's Bach Society. The Bach Suite, which she transcribed for horn, kicks off a program that showcases the talent that has earned Lundy a devoted following among Tucson Symphony Orchestra audiences since she took over as principal horn in 2006.
Lundy crafted Sunday's program and wanted to include a work by Bach in keeping with the society's initial mission. But Bach did not write extensively for horn.
"We have a couple of concertos, the Brandenburg," she explained. "There's no way for us to get to experience the solo work Bach put out. I think it's been really fun for me to work on."
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As for how the piece will sound with horn replacing cello: "I think the music comes across and speaks for itself," she said. "There are challenges for the brass or wind to do this, but we tried to make it so that we're not hindered by the instrument."
Violinist Ben Nisbet, a TSO colleague of Lundy's and vice president of the St. Andrew's Bach Society Board of Directors, said he is "excited to see how it's going to sound."
"You can't really deny the genius of Bach," he said, then added that it's an even more rewarding experience when the music is played by a musician such as Lundy who understands it beyond the notes on the page.
"There's no doubt that centering a concert around a horn player - and a fantastic horn player at that - is different," he said.
In addition to the Bach, Lundy, 27, will perform several solo works including Messiaen's 1974 piece "Appel Interstellaire from Des canyons aux étoiles" and Krol's melancholy "Laudatio."
She will share the stage for the concert finale, Mozart's Horn Quintet in E flat major, with Nisbet, violists Ann Weaver and Emma Noel Votapek, and cellist Anne Gratz.
Lundy has performed in the University of Arizona faculty artist series and said she would like to do more Tucson recitals as her schedule permits. Her summer will be filled with performances and travel, including playing principal horn with the Des Moines (Iowa) Metro Opera and participating in Switzerland's prestigious Lucerne Festival Academy.
If you go
St. Andrew's Bach Society: The Classic Horn.
• What: 22nd season opener for St. Andrew's Bach Society.
• Featuring: Horn player Johanna Lundy.
• When: 3 p.m. Sunday.
• Where: Grace St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 2331 E. Adams St.
• Cost: $10 adults at the door, $5 students.
• Program:
Bach's Suite No. 1 in G major for Unaccompanied Cello (transcribed for horn).
Messiaen's "Appel Interstellaire from Des canyons aux étoiles."
Haydn's Divertimento a tre in E-flat major.
Krol's Laudatio.
Mozart's Horn Quintet in E flat major.
