Rachael Podger - Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber: Rosary Sonatas (2015) [SACD]

The Rosary (Mystery) Sonatas, even today, are considered the most extensive example of scordatura. From the Italian discordare meaning ‘out of tune’, scordatura is a technique whereby the strings are purposefully tuned differently from their usual arrangement. Here the usual G-D-A-E tuning, where the violin strings are consistently a perfect fifth apart, is only used for the opening Sonata and the closing Passacaglia. The other fourteen sonatas each have a different configuration of tuning. Compositionally this allowed Biber to obtain unusual chords, opening up a whole new spectrum of harmonic and textural possibilities. This fundamentally altered what a violin was and could be; its physicality as well as its voice was transformed.

Gramophone Awards Winner – Baroque Instrumental
Presto Recordings of the Year Finalist 2015



Tracks:

CD1
1. The Annunciation d minor
2. The Visitation a major
3. The Nativity b minor
4. The Presentation in the Temple d minor
5. The Finding in the Temple a major
6. The Agony in the Garden c minor
7. The Scourging f major
8. The Crowning with Thorns bb major

CD2
9. The Carrying of the Cross a minor
10. The Crucifixion g minor
11. The Resurrection g major
12. The Ascension c major
13. The Descent of the Holy Ghost d minor
14. The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin d major
15. The Coronation of the Blessed Virgin c major
16. Passacaglia g minor

Personnel:

Rachel Podger (violin)
Marcin Świątkiewicz (harpsichord/organ)
Jonathan Manson (cello/viola da gamba)
David Miller (theorbo/archlute)