Just Biber

Following up her critically acclaimed recording of Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber’s Rosary Sonatas (CCSSA37315), violinist and musical director Rachel Podger leads Brecon Baroque on Just Biber, an album of Sonatas from Biber’s 1681 collection Sonatae Violino Solo and his theatrical Sonata Representivo. These works are extremely virtuosic with extensive multiple stopping and dazzling passages of stylus fantasticus. In Biber’s time, harmony was something cosmic, vibrating in a God-given resonance between human, instrumental and celestial bodies. Dedicated to Archbishop Maximilian Gandolf, the sonatas were not only designed to delight, but also potentially to balm and heal; Biber described the sonatas as a kind of prayer for the Archbishop’s longevity and good health.

01 – Violin Sonata No. 5 in E Minor, C. 142′ I. [Untitled]
02 – Violin Sonata No. 5 in E Minor, C. 142′ II. Variatio – Allegro
03 – Violin Sonata No. 5 in E Minor, C. 142′ III. Presto
04 – Violin Sonata No. 5 in E Minor, C. 142′ IV. Aria – Variations
05 – Violin Sonata No. 1 in A Major, C. 138′ I. [Untitled]
06 – Violin Sonata No. 1 in A Major, C. 138′ II. Adagio
07 – Violin Sonata No. 1 in A Major, C. 138′ III. [Untitled]
08 – Violin Sonata No. 1 in A Major, C. 138′ IV. Variatio
09 – Violin Sonata No. 1 in A Major, C. 138′ V. Finale
10 – Violin Sonata No. 2 in D Minor, C. 139′ I. [Untitled]
11 – Violin Sonata No. 2 in D Minor, C. 139′ II. Aria
12 – Violin Sonata No. 2 in D Minor, C. 139′ III. Variatio
13 – Violin Sonata No. 2 in D Minor, C. 139′ IV. Adagio
14 – Violin Sonata No. 2 in D Minor, C. 139′ V. [Untitled]
15 – Violin Sonata No. 2 in D Minor, C. 139′ VI. Finale
16 – Violin Sonata violino solo representativa in A Major, C. 146′ I. Allegro
17 – Violin Sonata violino solo representativa in A Major, C. 146′ II. Die Nachtigal
18 – Violin Sonata violino solo representativa in A Major, C. 146′ III. Der Cu Cu
19 – Violin Sonata violino solo representativa in A Major, C. 146′ IV. Der Fresch
20 – Violin Sonata violino solo representativa in A Major, C. 146′ V. Die Henne und der Hann
21 – Violin Sonata violino solo representativa in A Major, C. 146′ VI. Die Vachtel
22 – Violin Sonata violino solo representativa in A Major, C. 146′ VII. Die Katz
23 – Violin Sonata violino solo representativa in A Major, C. 146′ VIII. Musquetier Mars
24 – Violin Sonata violino solo representativa in A Major, C. 146′ IX. Allamande
25 – Violin Sonata No. 6 in C Minor, C. 143′ I. [Untitled]
26 – Violin Sonata No. 6 in C Minor, C. 143′ II. Passacaglia
27 – Violin Sonata No. 6 in C Minor, C. 143′ III. [Untitled] – Adagio
28 – Violin Sonata No. 6 in C Minor, C. 143′ IV. Gavotta
29 – Violin Sonata No. 6 in C Minor, C. 143′ V. Adagio – Allegro – Adagio
30 – Violin Sonata No. 3 in F Major, C. 140′ I. Adagio – Presto
31 – Violin Sonata No. 3 in F Major, C. 140′ II. Aria – Variatio
32 – Violin Sonata No. 3 in F Major, C. 140′ III. Presto – Adagio
33 – Violin Sonata No. 3 in F Major, C. 140′ IV. Allegro
34 – Violin Sonata No. 3 in F Major, C. 140′ V. Variatio