Biber: Harmonia Artificioso - Ariosa; Tam Aris Quam Aulis Servientes

Editorial Reviews
Album Description
"Of all the violin players of the last century Biber seems to have been the best, and his solos are the most difficult of any music I have seen of the same period." It is in these terms that the 18th century English music historian Charles Burney speaks of Heinrich Biber. This peerless violinist was just as gifted a composer, his works diffused as far afield as France and North Germany. His first opus, published by 1676, is a collection of twelve sonatas. In them, he reveals his mastery of the Italianate style then so popular in Austria, adding to the strings and basso continuo the bright sound of two trumpets. The seven partitas of his Harmonia Artificioso - Ariosa go even further in their quest for virtuosity. Among the "artifices" required of the two soloists is scordatura, a modification of the normal tuning of the strings that gives them still greater brilliance... and that Biber's distant successor Mozart was to use in his Sinfonia concertante K364.

Biber: Harmonia Artificioso - Ariosa; Tam Aris Quam Aulis Servientes, Music, Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber, Rare Fruits Council, Chamber, Chamber Music, Chamber Music & Recitals, Classical, Classical Composers, Classical Music, Multiple String Instruments with Keyboard/Continuo, Orchestral

Average customer rating:

One of the best Baroque albums *ever*

Biber: Harmonia Artificioso - Ariosa; Tam Aris Quam Aulis Servientes

Manufacturer: Astree
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

All Works by Biber | Biber, Heinrich Ignaz | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
General | Classical | Styles | Music
General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
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Rariora & Marginalia

ASIN: B00008PW54
Release Date: 2003-11-18

Album Description

"Of all the violin players of the last century Biber seems to have been the best, and his solos are the most difficult of any music I have seen of the same period." It is in these terms that the 18th century English music historian Charles Burney speaks of Heinrich Biber. This peerless violinist was just as gifted a composer, his works diffused as far afield as France and North Germany. His first opus, published by 1676, is a collection of twelve sonatas. In them, he reveals his mastery of the Italianate style then so popular in Austria, adding to the strings and basso continuo the bright sound of two trumpets. The seven partitas of his Harmonia Artificioso - Ariosa go even further in their quest for virtuosity. Among the "artifices" required of the two soloists is scordatura, a modification of the normal tuning of the strings that gives them still greater brilliance... and that Biber's distant successor Mozart was to use in his Sinfonia concertante K364.

Customer Reviews:

One of the best Baroque albums *ever*.......2003-11-18

You'll have to see past the rather uncatchy Latin titles of these works to discover what outstanding pieces they really are. To my mind, these two discs stand with Andrew Manze and Romanesca's two-disc set of violin sonatas as the supreme achievements in the ever-growing Biber discography.

This two-for-one set is a reissue of what were originally Astree #8572 and #8630. The first of these, "Harmonia Artificioso-Ariosa," won the Diapason d'Or and sent the Rare Fruits Council with Manfredo Kraemer on their way to glory. If such things help you to make purchasing decisions, both discs receive very warm 3-star reviews in the Penguin Guide, and the "Sonatae tam Aris quam Aulis servientes" disc has been in the Gramophone guide for several years.

Briefly, about the music: "Sonatae tam Aris quam Aulis Servientes," while not a catchy, marketable title, means simply "sonatas suitable for altar or court"--in other words, sacred or profane music. Of the 12 sonatas, almost half are scored for strings plus trumpets, and the effect is spectacular and quite the equal of Bach's second Brandenburg Concerto.

The other disc, "Harmonia Artificioso-Ariosa," is one of my all-time favorites, and really the group's performance of the near 16-minute final partita is one of the highlights of all Baroque music! One of the many strengths of the Rare Fruits Council, aside from their technical facility and sense of style, is what I'll call their gusto, or their imaginative re-creation of music. They don't simply play the notes--they l-i-v-e them! The intensity on this disc builds and builds to a wonderful climax.

So, if you've relished Manze's Biber recordings and were left wondering where to find more, here it is. Also, two other recent Rare Fruits discs are equally satisfying: a selection of Leclair and Locatelli sonatas on Astree 8842, and a selection of early violin works called "Rariora and Marginalia" on Astree 8840. The latter disc was recently one of BBC Music Magazine's discs of the month. Finally, Manfredo Kraemer's recording of Buxtehude violin sonatas on the Harmonia Mundi label is another winner. But this is where he started, and you should too!

Playing time:
Disc 1 78:53
Disc 2 67:21

(And lest you think that the cover art is a pair of giant red lips --a la the Rolling Stones-- note that it is in fact a contemporary sofa! All the twofer reissues in Naive's Tete-a-tete series [search with "Tete" in the label box] come with an image of an ultra-chic or ultra-antique piece of furniture of the cover. So don't let the cover art deter you from acquiring this *magical* set.)

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