Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber

Musician

Forlisteners of baroque sacred music, violinists interested in historical technique, early-music enthusiasts and scholars.
2 Reviews 0 Definitions 1 Charts

The Profile

Bohemian-born composer and violinist (1644–1704) of the Baroque period, known for virtuosic violin writing, scordatura tunings and large-scale sacred compositions; long association with Salzburg.

Famous for the Rosary (Mystery) Sonatas for solo violin using extensive scordatura; associated with the Missa Salisburgensis for 53 parts (attributed) and other sacred and instrumental works.

The provided reviews focus on Biber's Requiem in A major and the 15 Rosary (Mystery) Sonatas. They highlight Biber's mastery of scordatura and contrapuntal technique, praise Jordi Savall's Requiem recording and recommend Ensemble Cordaria for the Rosary Sonatas. Biber is presented as a major Baroque violinist-composer associated with large-scale sacred works.

Notable Quotes

❝ Known in particular for the 15 Rosary Sonatas for solo Violin, Biber was also a great polyphonist: his Missa Salisburgensis for 53 independent voices is the most complex contrapuntal composition composed before the 20th century.

❝ The most warmly recommended performance is that of the Ensemble Cordaria for Brilliant: besides being a technically excellent performance, the cost is extremely affordable.