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2006, September 12
Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber
A bohemian baroque composer.
It sometimes seems that the Sonatas and Partitas for violin by J.S. Bach were born out of his head full grown, like Athena from the head of Zeus. I know little about what violin compositions might have been available to him for study.
Bach's father, Johann Ambrosius Bach lived from 1645 until 1695. Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber, a contemporary of J.S. Bach's father, was born in 1644 in Bohemia. Among his many works were two sets of violin sonatas, the more well known of which is the set of 15 sonatas for violin with continuo and one passacaglia for solo violin, known as the Rosary Sonatas or the Mystery Sonatas.
Arcangelo Corelli (1653 - 1713), another near contemporary of Bach's father, wrote many violin sonatas, all with continuo, which have been considered a major part of the baroque violin literature. And perhaps there were many more composers whose work was available to Johann Sebastian for study. How plausible is it that he may have been familiar with Biber's work?
Biber's music was a new discovery for me, and learning about it has opened doors to many facets of baroque music of which I knew nothing. Here are some descriptions of the instruments used, the practice of scordatura and a comparison of four performances of the Mystery of the Rosary Sonatas.
Works of H.I.F. Biber
- 8 violin sonatas with continuo
- 2 Operas
- Cantatas
- Requiem
- Missa Salisburgensis (attrib; for 53 independent voices)
- Missa Sancti Henrici
- Missa Bruxellensis
- Missa Scala Aretina
- Missa Christi resurgentis
- Sonata "La battalia"
- Mensa sonora (Sonatas for 2 Viol.,Viola und Baß)
- Die "Sonatae Tam Aris Quam Aulis servientes" for 6-8 Instruments
- 12 Sonatas "Fidicinium sacroprofanum"
- 7 Trio Sonatas "Harmonia artificioso-ariosa: diversi mode accordata"
- "Die liederliche Gesellschaft von allerley Humor"
- "Sonata representativa avium"
- 16 "The Rosary Sonatas" in scordatura (a.k.a. "The Mystery Sonatas")
The Mystery of the Rosary Sonatas
- Die Fünf Freudenhaften Mysterien (The Five Joyous Mysteries)
- - Sonata I: Die Verkündigung (The Annunciation)
- - Sonata II: Mariä Besuch bei Elisabeth (The Visitation)
- - Sonata III: Christi Geburt (The Nativity)
- - Sonata IV: Christi Darstellung im Tempel (The Presentation)
- - Sonata V: Der zwölfjährige Jesus im Tempel (The Finding in the Temple)
- Die Fünf Schmerzhaften Mysterien (The Five Sorrowful Mysteries)
- - Sonata VI: Christi Leiden am Ölberg (The Agony in the Garden)
- - Sonata VII: Die Geibelung (The Scourging of Jesus)
- - Sonata VIII: Die Dornenkrönung (The Crowning of Jesus with Thorns)
- - Sonata IX: Die Kreuztragung (Jesus carries His Cross)
- - Sonata X: Die Kreuzigung (The Crucifixion)
- Die Fünf Glorreichen Mysterien (The Five Glorious Mysteries)
- - Sonata XI: Die Auferstehung (The Ressurection)
- - Sonata XII: Christi Himmelfahrt (The Ascension)
- - Sonata XIII: Ausgiebung des Heiligen Geistes (Descent of the Holy Gost)
- - Sonata XIV: Mariä Himellfahrt (Assumption of our Lady)
- - Sonata XV: Die Krönung der Jungfrau Maria (Crowning of the Virgin Mary)
- Passacaglia in G minor (solo violin)
Links: von Biber
Answers.com Biography of Biber
The Mystery Sonatas, a discussion
