Harmonie Universelle, Florian Deuter, Monica Waisman - Ignaz Franz Biber: Harmonia artificioso-ariosa (2026) [Hi-Res/MP3]

In 1696, the Salzburg court conductor Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber described his print of seven chamber suites (“Partien”) for two string instruments and basso continuo as “artful vocal harmony” in ornate Latin.

These trio sonatas are of a special kind, because the two upper voices are not limited to the typical imitations practised in Italy at that time, but Biber allows the solo voices to be played in a free, expressive manner. These trio sonatas are of a special kind, because the two upper voices are not limited to the typical imitations practised in Italy at that time. Instead, Biber allows the solo voices to shine in a different light in virtuoso interplay above the bass foundation, repeatedly in full-bodied polyphony or in chords. In addition, new timbres are created through the use of the violin, viola and viola d‘amore in various combinations and the ‘detuning’ of the strings (scordatura) to achieve different string tensions and thus give the instruments a sharper or softer sound.

This recording is the third installment of the Biber recordings with Harmonie Universelle, following “Fidicinium Sacro-Profanum” (ACC 24357) and “Sonatae Tam Aris Quam Aulis Servientes” (ACC 24386).

Tracklist
01. Biber Partia I in D Minor Sonata. Adagio - Presto - Adagio
02. Biber Partia I in D Minor Allamande
03. Biber Partia I in D Minor Gigue. Variatio I – Variatio II
04. Biber Partia I in D Minor Aria
05. Biber Partia I in D Minor Sarabande. Variatio I – Variatio II
06. Biber Partia II in B Minor Praeludium
07. Biber Partia II in B Minor Allamande. Variatio
08. Biber Partia II in B Minor Balletto
09. Biber Partia II in B Minor Aria. Presto
10. Biber Partia II in B Minor Gigue. Presto
11. Biber Partia III in A Major Praeludium. Allegro
12. Biber Partia III in A Major Allamande
13. Biber Partia III in A Major Amener. Presto
14. Biber Partia III in A Major Balletto
15. Biber Partia III in A Major Gigue
16. Biber Partia III in A Major Ciacona. Canon in unisono
17. Biber Partia IV in E-Flat Major Sonata. Adagio - Allegro - Adagio
18. Biber Partia IV in E-Flat Major Allamande
19. Biber Partia IV in E-Flat Major Trezza. Presto
20. Biber Partia IV in E-Flat Major Aria
21. Biber Partia IV in E-Flat Major Canario
22. Biber Partia IV in E-Flat Major Gigue. Presto
23. Biber Partia IV in E-Flat Major Pollicinello. Presto
24. Biber Partia V in G Minor Intrada. Alla breve
25. Biber Partia V in G Minor Aria. Adagio
26. Biber Partia V in G Minor Balletto. Presto
27. Biber Partia V in G Minor Gigue
28. Biber Partia V in G Minor Passacaglia
29. Biber Partia VI in D Major Praeludium. Adagio - Allegro
30. Biber Partia VI in D Major Aria. Variatio I - XIII - Finale. Adagi -Presto
31. Biber Partia VII in C Minor Praeludium. Grave–Presto
32. Biber Partia VII in C Minor Allamande
33. Biber Partia VII in C Minor Sarabande
34. Biber Partia VII in C Minor Gigue. Presto
35. Biber Partia VII in C Minor Aria
36. Biber Partia VII in C Minor Trezza
37. Biber Partia VII in C Minor Arietta variata