HEINRICH BIBER: Mensa Sonora; Battalia – Baroque Band/ Garry Clarke, director – Cedille 90000 116, 56:50 [Distr. by Naxos] ****:
According to the notes on this release, Hindemith considered Biber the most important Baroque composer before Bach. He certainly was influential; those who have heard his Rosary Sonatas and other violin works marvel at the intricacy and expression found in the writing. The Bohemian Biber ended up in Mozart’s future Salzburg as deputy Kapellmeister, and it is from this time that these works make their appearance.
Mensa Sonora (“sounding table”) was intended to be dining music, and though the notes suggest that it is really much more than that, I am not sure. When you compare it to other Baroque models of the age you find much more substance in Corelli, Locatelli, Geminiani, or even Vivaldi, but since we know of Biber’s more sophisticated work we know what he is capable of, and so it seems likely that he did not extend his considerable powers any further than perhaps he thought he needed to in order to meet his goals with this music. These are essentially French Suites with additions, for a total of six works. Special technical effects are absent these pieces probably indicating that even lesser orchestras would be capable of playing them, true table music in the best sense of the word. Despite the second rank, there is some terrific music here, direct and appealing, with numerous catchy phrases no doubt designed to grab the ear of one of the patrons at the Archbishop’s table, further recommending the work to others.
Battalia (“Battle”) uses special effects like the knocking of the bow on the violin, and he uses these descriptive devices in the most literal manner possible to give a real tour-de-force of tone-poem exactness. It is a whale of a good time.
Garry Clarke has beefed up the orchestra so that there is more than one player per part (the other available recordings use the less-is-best philosophy, as stridently wrongheaded as that is) and I think it helps the music greatly; in fact, I am sure this is what was intended. You can’t hear a string quartet very well at a loud dinner party with a number of guests. This is a fine addition to the Cedille stable.
— Steven Ritter
