Rosary Sonatas Archive

BIBER: The Rosary Sonatas – Hélène Schmitt – Aeolus

by Audiophile Audition | Jul 23, 2017 | SACD & Other Hi-Res Reviews

BIBER: The Rosary Sonatas – Hélène Schmitt – Aeolus SACD AE–10256, 145:38, (7/13/17) *****: Biber, by now, has earned his place in the pantheon of baroque composers. Specifically, he represents the high art in Austrian music before Mozart. In trying to understand Biber the musician, it’s difficult to ignore the impact his Mystery or Rosary Sonatas have on informing us about his best work as a composer and virtuosity as a violinist. Biber scored fifteen of the sixteen works for violin and continuo, and capped these multi-movement works with a violin solo. The sonatas are each, in score, accompanied by visual scenes from the Rosary. The concluding passacaglia is sometimes called The Guardian Angel, based upon its accompanying visual image. The Passacaglia is reminiscent of the great Bach Ciaccona from his second partita, written likely around twenty years later than Biber’s collection. Of especial interest in these works is Biber’s use of scordatura—or re-tuning—of the violin strings. All but the first and last works require the performer to retune her instrument, offering us a new sonic signature for the instrument, in addition to new voicing possibilities for chords and faster passagework. This re-tuning offers a challenge to the modern performer […]