Harmonia artificiosa-ariosa

In 1696, the Salzburg court conductor Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber described his print of 7 chamber suites ("Partien") for two string instruments and basso continuo as "artfully melodious" in refined Latin. These trio sonatas are of a special kind, because the two upper voices are not limited to the typical imitations that were practiced in Italy at that time, but Biber lets the solo voices shine in a different light in virtuosic collaboration above the bass foundation. New tonal colors are added through the use of violin, viola, and viola d'amore in various combinations and the "mistuning" of the strings (scordatura).