rssMost of the time Bach is using the keyboard not to suggest itself, but to suggest something that lies beyond it. - Ralph Kirkpatrick
2006, September 18
Biber Rosary Sonatas on CD
Recordings of the Mystery of the Rosary Sonatas.
Rosary Sonatas, Pavlo Beznosiuk
Pavlo Beznosiuk, violins
David Roblou, Harpsichord, chamber organ
Paula Chateauneuf, Theorbo, archlute
Richard Tunnicliffe, Viola da Gamba, Violone
Timothy West, Reader
Recorded 30 Nov to 4 Dec 2003, St Andrew's Church, Toddington, Gloucestershire
AVIE AV 0038 [2 CDs: 79.47 + 77.18]
Biber's Rosary Sonatas, Andrew Manze
Andrew Manze, violin
Richard Egarr, cembalo, organ
Allison Mcgillivray, Cello
Copyright: 2004
Harmonia Mundi HMU 907321.22 2 CDs
Biber's Rosary Sonatas, Walter Reiter, Cordaria
Walter Reiter, violin
Timothy Roberts, cembalo, organ
Elizabeth Kenny, Theorbo
Joanna Levine, Cello, Viola da gamba
Frances Kelly, Double harp
Mark Levy, Lirone
Kah-Ming Ng, Regal
Copyright: January 29, 2002, Signum UK 2 CDs
Biber's Rosary Sonatas, Reinhard Goebel
Reinhard Goebel, violin
Andreas Spering, harpsichord, organ
Konrad Junghänel, lute
Phoebe Carrai, Cello
Recorded: January, 1990
Signum UK 2 CDs
Of the four performances, the one by Andrew Manze is the most sparsely instrumented. It is close to solo violin performance, and the music has an edge I enjoy that the other recitals lack.
Walter Reiter, with Cordaria, is the most richly arranged, one might almost say orchestrated. The tempos are a bit slower, allowing the music its full voice. So far, this is my favorite.
Here are mp3 and QT files of the first few phrases from each of the recordings. These are large files so be patient.
Pavlo Beznosiuk QT file: 1.3 MB
Pavlo Beznosiuk mp3 file: 1.3 MB
Walter Reiter, Cordaria QT file: 1.7 MB
Walter Reiter, Cordaria mp3 file: 1.7 MB
Reinhard Goebel, Musica Antiqua Köln QT file: 1 MB
Reinhard Goebel, Musica Antiqua Köln mp3 file: 1 MB
This table compares the instrumentation of the performances.
| Sonata | Beznosiuk | Manze | Reiter | Goebel | Violin Pitch |
| 1 Annunciation |
Violin Chamber Organ Theorbo |
Violin Baroque Organ |
Violin Chamber Organ Theorbo Double Harp |
Violin Organ Lute Cello |
G D A E |
| 2 Visitation |
Violin Harpsichord Viola da Gamba |
Violin Harpsichord |
Violin Harpsichord Viola da Gamba |
Violin Cembalo Cello |
A E A E |
| 3 Nativity |
Violin Archlute Viola da Gamba |
Violin Harpsichord |
Violin Theorbo Double Harp |
Violin Cembalo |
B F# B D |
| 4 Presentation in the Temple |
Violin Harpsichord Theorbo |
Violin Baroque Organ |
Violin Harpsichord Theorbo |
Violin Organ Lute Cello |
A D A C# |
| 5 The Finding in the Temple |
Violin Harpsichord Theorbo Viola da Gamba |
Violin Harpsichord |
Violin Harpsichord Theorbo |
Violin Cembalo Cello |
A E A C# |
| 6 Agony in the Garden |
Violin Chamber Organ Archlute |
Violin Baroque Organ |
Violin Chamber Organ Theorbo |
Violin Organ Cello |
Ab Eb G D |
| 7 Scourging |
Violin Viola da Gamba |
Violin Baroque Organ |
Violin Harpsichord Theorbo |
Violin Cembalo Cello |
C F A C |
| 8 Crowning with Thorns |
Violin Harpsichord Theorbo Viola da Gamba |
Violin Harpsichord |
Violin Chamber Organ Regal Viola da Gamba |
Violin Organ Cello |
D F Bb D |
| 9 Carrying of the Cross |
Violin Chamber Organ Theorbo |
Violin Baroque Organ |
Violin Chamber Organ Theorbo Lirone |
Violin Organ Lute Cello |
C E A E |
| 10 Crucifixion |
Violin Harpsichord Theorbo |
Violin Harpsichord |
Violin Harpsichord Theorbo Cello |
Violin Organ Cello |
G D A D |
| 11 Resurrection |
Violin Chamber Organ Theorbo Viola da Gamba |
Violin Baroque Organ |
Violin Chamber Organ Harpsichord Viola da Gamba |
Violin Organ Cello |
G D G D |
| 12 Ascension |
Violin Harpsichord Theorbo Violone |
Violin Harpsichord Cello |
Violin Harpsichord Theorbo Cello |
Violin Cembalo Cello |
C E G C |
| 13 Descent of the Holy Ghost |
Violin Theorbo |
Violin Baroque Organ |
Violin Harpsichord Theorbo Cello |
Violin Organ Lute Cello |
A E C# E |
| 14 Assumption of Mary |
Violin Harpsichord |
Violin Baroque Organ |
Violin Harpsichord Theorbo Double Harp |
Violin Organ Lute Cello |
A E C D |
| 15 Coronation of Mary |
Violin Chamber Organ Theorbo Archlute Violone |
Violin Baroque Organ |
Violin Chamber Organ Theorbo Viola da Gamba Double Harp |
Violin Cembalo Cello |
G C G D |
| Guardian Angel Passacaglia | Violin | Violin | Violin | Violin | G D A E |
Links: Reviews
Review of Biber recordings by W.A. Grieve-Smith
Review Beznosiuk by Jonathan Woolf
Review Beznosiuk by Peter Bright
Review Manze by American Amazon customers
Review Manze by British Amazon customers
Review Manze with other Biber sonatas
Review Reiter with Cordaria by Brian Clark and Gary Higginson
