Heinrich Biber - Mystery Sonatas (2007)

CD 1:
Sonata no. 1 (The Annunciation)
1 Praeludium [2:56]
2 Variatie [2:26]
3 untitled [1:29]
Sonata no. 2 (The Visitation)
4 untitled [1:35]
5 Allaman [2:13]
6 Presto [0:48]
Sonata no. 3 (The Nativity)
7 untitled [1:59]
8 Courente [2:54]
9 Adagio [2:24]
Sonata no. 4 (The Presentation of the Infant Jesus in the Temple)
10 Ciacona [8:59]

Sonata no. 5 (The Twelve-Year-Old Jesus in the Temple)
11 Praeludium [1:36]
12 Allaman [1:22]
13 Gigue [1:07]
14 Saraban [2:11]
Sonata no. 6 (Christ on the Mount of Olives)
15 Lamento [9:56]
Sonata no. 7 (The Scourging at the Pillar)
16 Allamanda [3:31]
17 Sarab: Variatio [5:15]
Sonata no. 8 (The Crown of Thorns)
18 untitled [3:23]
19 Gigue & Double Presto, Double [4:26]
Sonata no. 9 Jesus carries the cross
20 untitled [3:02]
21 Courente, Double [3:45]
22 Finale [1:49]

Total running time: [69:36]

Disc 2
Sonata no. 10 (The Crucifixion)
1 Praeludium [1:26]
2 Aria [1:46]
3 Variatio [5:25]
4 Variatio [2:07]
Sonata no. 11 (The Resurrection)
5 untitled [10:45]
Sonata no. 12 (The Ascension)
6 Intrada [0:48]
7 Aria Tubicinum [1:26]
8 Allamanda [2:03]
9 Courente
Sonata no. 13 (Pentecost)
10 untitled [5:01]
11 Gavott [1:46]
12 Gigue [1:35]
13 Sarabanda [0:55]
Sonata no. 14 (The Assumption of the Virgin)
14 untitled [3:56]
15 Aria, Aria, Gigue [6:34]
Sonata no. 15 (The Beatification of the Virgin)
16 untitled [1:40]
17 Aria [4:45]
18 Canzon [1:43]
19 Sarabanda [2:16]

20 Passacaglia [10:55]

Total running time: [69:03]

Walter Reiter – violin
Ensemble Cordaria:
Timothy Roberts – harpsichord, organ
Elisabeth Kenny – theorbo
Joanna Levine – cello, viola da gamba
Frances Kelly – double harp
Mark Levy – lirone
Kah-Ming Ng – regal

These sonatas are close to the sublime. Their richness is no obstacle to an austere spirituality, profound, new and active. They allow the performers to experience a shared search for the "truth". Gunar Letzbor's violin captures the fascination of the Baroque. The mysterious asymmetry, the unforeseen and evocative fantasy and the passion for life. (www.goldberg-magazine.com)

download: CD1 CD2

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