Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber: Sonaten über die Mysterien des Rosenkranzes (Sonatas on the Mysteries of the Rosary) - Gunar Letzbor

On this CD:

1. Mystery Sonata, for violin & continuo No. 1 in D minor ("The Annunciation"; standard tuning), C. 90
Composed by Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber
Performed by Lorenz Duftschmid, Gunar Letzbor, Wolfgang Zerer, Wolfgang Gluxam, Axel Wolf

2. Mystery Sonata, for violin & continuo No. 2 in A major ("The Visitation"; tuning: a, e', a', e'' ), C. 91
Composed by Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber
Performed by Lorenz Duftschmid, Gunar Letzbor, Wolfgang Zerer, Wolfgang Gluxam, Axel Wolf

3. Mystery Sonata, for violin & continuo No. 3 in B minor ("The Nativity"; tuning: b, f'-sharp, b', d'' ), C. 92
Composed by Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber
Performed by Lorenz Duftschmid, Gunar Letzbor, Wolfgang Zerer, Wolfgang Gluxam, Axel Wolf

4. Mystery Sonata, for violin & continuo No. 4 in D minor ("The Presentation"; tuning: a, d', a', d'' ), C. 93
Composed by Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber
Performed by Lorenz Duftschmid, Gunar Letzbor, Wolfgang Zerer, Wolfgang Gluxam, Axel Wolf

5. Mystery Sonata, for violin & continuo No. 5 in A major ("Jesus in the Temple"; tuning: a, e', a', c''-sharp ), C. 94
Composed by Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber
Performed by Lorenz Duftschmid, Gunar Letzbor, Wolfgang Zerer, Wolfgang Gluxam, Axel Wolf

6. Mystery Sonata, for violin & continuo No. 6 in C minor ("The Agony in the Garden"; tuning: a'-flat, e'-flat, g', d''), C. 95
Composed by Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber
Performed by Lorenz Duftschmid, Gunar Letzbor, Wolfgang Zerer, Wolfgang Gluxam, Axel Wolf

7. Mystery Sonata, for violin & continuo No. 7 in F major ("The Scourging"; tuning: c, f', a', c''), C. 96
Composed by Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber
Performed by Lorenz Duftschmid, Gunar Letzbor, Wolfgang Zerer, Wolfgang Gluxam, Axel Wolf

8. Mystery Sonata, for violin & continuo No. 8 in B-flat major ("The Crowning with Thorns"; tuning: d', f', b'-flat, d''), C. 97
Composed by Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber
Performed by Lorenz Duftschmid, Gunar Letzbor, Wolfgang Zerer, Wolfgang Gluxam, Axel Wolf

9. Mystery Sonata, for violin & continuo No. 9 in A minor ("The Carrying of the Cross"; tuning: c', e', a', d''), C. 98
Composed by Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber
Performed by Lorenz Duftschmid, Gunar Letzbor, Wolfgang Zerer, Wolfgang Gluxam, Axel Wolf

10. Mystery Sonata, for violin & continuo No. 10 in G minor ("The Crucifixion"; tuning: g, d', s', d''), C. 99
Composed by Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber
Performed by Lorenz Duftschmid, Gunar Letzbor, Wolfgang Zerer, Wolfgang Gluxam, Axel Wolf

11. Mystery Sonata, for violin & continuo No. 11 in G major ("The Resurrection"; tuning: g, g', d', d''), C. 100
Composed by Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber
Performed by Lorenz Duftschmid, Gunar Letzbor, Wolfgang Zerer, Wolfgang Gluxam, Axel Wolf

12. Mystery Sonata, for violin & continuo No. 12 in C major ("The Ascension"; tuning: c', e', a', e''), C. 101
Composed by Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber
Performed by Lorenz Duftschmid, Gunar Letzbor, Wolfgang Zerer, Wolfgang Gluxam, Axel Wolf

13. Mystery Sonata, for violin & continuo No. 13 in D minor ("The Descent"; tuning: a, e', c''-sharp, e''), C. 102
Composed by Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber
Performed by Lorenz Duftschmid, Gunar Letzbor, Wolfgang Zerer, Wolfgang Gluxam, Axel Wolf

14. Mystery Sonata, for violin & continuo No. 14 in D major ("The Assumption"; tuning: a, e', a', d''), C. 103
Composed by Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber
Performed by Lorenz Duftschmid, Gunar Letzbor, Wolfgang Zerer, Wolfgang Gluxam, Axel Wolf

15. Mystery Sonata, for violin & continuo No. 15 in C major ("The Coronation"; tuning: g, c', g', d''), C. 104
Composed by Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber
Performed by Lorenz Duftschmid, Gunar Letzbor, Wolfgang Zerer, Wolfgang Gluxam, Axel Wolf

16. Passacaglia (Mystery Sonata), for violin solo in G minor (standard tuning), C. 105
Composed by Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber
Performed by Lorenz Duftschmid, Gunar Letzbor, Wolfgang Zerer, Wolfgang Gluxam, Axel Wolf

Customer Reviews:

Emotional baroque!!.......2003-04-16

What a fabulous recording! When I bought this CD, I was afraid that the Rosenkranz Sonaten would be sterile exercises in baroque violin technique. Was I wrong! Letzbor plays each of the sonatas with charismatic emotion and vitality. I can finally relate each of the sonatas to its proper station on the rosary! There is not a dull moment in this recording. Since Letzbor tunes his instrument differently for each sonata, the timbres change from work to work. The recorded sound is great, having much resonance in both the instrument and the venue. The other instruments provide fantastic basso continuo--not too light, but they do not overshadow the star of the show. I listen to this recording far more often than I expected I would.

The Glory of Baroque.......2001-03-07

I'm a longtime lover of the music of the Baroque, and for me there is but one god and his name is Bach. Nonetheless, Mr Biber, whose birth predates Bach by 40 years,and is relativly unknown, deserves a prominent place in the pantheon of 17th century composers. The Rosenkrantzsonaten is Biber's best known work, and is a tour-de-force for the violin. This work employs a tuning method known as "scordatura" which is an abnormal tuning to achieve a special effect. As a former piano player, I can't imagine playing if the keys were changed to different notes. I certainly admire the violinist that undertakes to master this work, which , by the way, Gunar Letzbor has done. He also has the backing of excellent musicians, and a sonicly first rate recording. Highly recommended.

Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber: Sonaten über die Mysterien des Rosenkranzes (Sonatas on the Mysteries of the Rosary) - Gunar Letzbor

Average customer rating:

Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber: Sonaten über die Mysterien des Rosenkranzes (Sonatas on the Mysteries of the Rosary) - Gunar Letzbor
Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber , Lorenz Duftschmid , Gunar Letzbor , Wolfgang Zerer , Wolfgang Gluxam , Axel Wolf , Michael Oman , and Ulli Fussenegger
Manufacturer: Arcana
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00005B674
Release Date: 2001-04-10

Music Track: