**** At Brilliant Classics the complete violin sonatas of Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber von Bibern, in short Biber (1644-1704), have been released, performed by the Ensemble Violini Capricciosi. Touchingly beautiful music, equally touchingly beautifully performed by the ensemble. Don't think you like baroque? Then you haven't heard Biber yet.
The sonatas were divided over 5 CDs: the first two comprise the 15 mysteries of the rosary, CDs 3 and 4, the Salzburg sonatas and number 5 contains the 4 sonatas of the Minorite monastery (Franciscan monks) in Vienna, supplemented with the early work Sonata Representativa (1669), possibly one of the first programmatic works in music history.
Biber was an Austrian composer and violinist of Bohemian descent. He was born in the present-day Czech city Straz Pod Ralskem (then Wartenberg), but became Kapellmeister at the famous chapel of the prince-archbishop of Olomouc (Olmütz) in Moravia, later composer, violinist and steward of the archbishop of Salzburg Maximilian Gandolph von Khuenburg. By Emperor Leopold I Habsburg he was elevated to the nobility, hence "von Bibern".
As a violinist he was regarded as one of the best of his time, but as a composer he also set benchmarks: he became a master of scordatura, a technique in which the strings of the violin, usually tuned in sol-re-la-mi (fifths), are tuned differently (for example in do-mi-la-mi or la-mi-la'-mi'). This technique allows the composer to experiment with different timbres and polyphonic effects. However, it does not make it easier for the performers.
Nevertheless, the Ensemble Violini Capricciosi know how to handle it. The performance sounds, despite the virtuosity of the pieces, smooth, balanced and lively. The 15 mystery sonatas of the rosary receive their own colour and character through the scordatura. They are therefore not programmatic, but capture the mysteries in sound images and atmospheres. True fantasy! Moreover, perfectly performed. And you also get a tenth sonata on top: "the Crucifixion", equally captured in atmospheres and images, although anyone who listens carefully can still hear through the music the nails being hammered into the cross. "The Crucifixion" is musically by the way identical to – but one note lower composed than – Biber's "Mars of the Turks", in which the siege of Vienna (1683) by the Ottomans is depicted.
CDs 3, 4 and 5 are somewhat more playful, but no less of high quality because of it. The musicians deliver a fine performance and clearly feel the music. In the concluding Sonata Representativa in A from 1669 (incorrectly dated 1689 in the booklet), as mentioned, the programmatic approach is taken. Nightingale, cuckoo, frog, chicken, rooster, quail and cat jump merrily around. A nice conclusion to a rewarding CD box. If you didn't know Biber yet, you do now. If you already knew him… you also do!
- WHO: Ensemble Violini Capricciosi | Igor Ruhadze, violin solo
- WHAT: Complete violin sonatas by Biber
- RELEASE: Brilliant Classics, no. 95291