Carl Heinrich von Biber's sonatas, six of which are featured on this CD, are characterized by a magnificent sound and a brilliant use of trumpets, comparable to his father's famous works.
Composer Biography
Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber, a renowned violin virtuoso, was ennobled by Emperor Leopold I in 1690, allowing him to change his surname to 'Biber von Bibern'.
Composer Biography
Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber's first teacher was Johann Heinrich Schmelzer, a famous violin virtuoso, who influenced Biber's taste for instrumental music and violin technique.
Composition History
Heinrich Ignaz von Biber's 'Sonatae tam aris quam aulis serviente' (Sonatas as suitable for the church as for the drawing-room), published in 1676, blurred the distinction between 'Church sonata' and 'Chamber sonata'.
Performer Biography
Ensemble 'Pian & Forte', founded by Antonio Frigé in 1989, specializes in rediscovering and performing early music from the 17th to late 18th centuries using original instruments.
Composer Biography
Carl Heinrich von Biber, son of Heinrich Ignaz von Biber, followed in his father's footsteps, working at the court of the Prince-Bishop of Salzburg and eventually becoming Domkapellmeister.
Compositional Technique
Heinrich Ignaz von Biber's 'Sonata violino solo representativa' is an early example of imitative music, featuring brilliant imitations of animal sounds like the nightingale, cuckoo, frog, rooster, hen, quail, and cat.
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Links: New Concertos for Saxophone and Wind Ensemble
