Composer: Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber
Performer: Purcell Quartet, Jane Rogers
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Chandos
Release: 2007
Size: 1.03 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
Mensa sonora, seu Musica Instrumentalis: Sonata No. 1 in D Major
01. I. Sonata: Grave – Allegro
02. II. Allemanda
03. III. Courante
04. IV. Sarabanda
05. V. Gavotte
06. VI. Gigue
07. VI. Sonatina: Allegro
Mensa sonora, seu Musica instrumentalis: Sonata No. 2 in F Major
08. I. Intrada
09. II. Balletto
10. III. Sarabanda
11. IV. Balletto
12. V. Sarabanda
13. VI. Balletto
Mensa sonora, seu Musica instrumentalis: Partita No. 3 in A Minor
14. I. Gagliarda: Allegro
15. II. Sarabanda
16. III. Aria
17. III. Ciacona
18. V. Sonatina
Violin Sonata in A Major, C. 147
19. Sonata: Adagio – Presto – Adagio – Presto – Grave
20. Aria – 11 Variations – Aria
Mensa sonora, seu Musica instrumentalis: Sonata No. 4 in B-Flat Major
21. I. Sonata
22. II. Allemanda
23. III. Courante
24. IV. Balletto
25. V. Sarabanda
26. VI. Gigue: Presto
27. VII. Sonatina: Adagio
Mensa sonora, seu Musica instrumentalis: Sonata No. 5 in E Major
28. I. Intrada: Allegro
29. II. Balletto
30. III. Trezza
31. IV. Gigue
32. V. Gavotte: Alla breve
33. VI. Gigue
34. VII. Retirada
Mensa sonora, seu Musica instrumentalis: Sonata No. 6 in G Minor
35. I. Sonata
36. II. Aria
37. III. Canario: Presto
38. IV. Amener
39. V. Trezza
40. VI. Ciacona
41. VII. Sonatina: Adagio – Presto
Recorded: 1-3 October 2006
Recording Venue: St Bartholomew’s Church, Orford, Sufolk, United Kingdom
Mensa sonora, published in Salzburg in 1680, is scored for four-part strings and basso continuo. It consists of six suites of mainly very short dance movements and could be seen as the least substantial of Biber’s instrumental collections. But the consistently high level of craftsmanship and imagination transforms what might have been purely functional music. We’re continually delighted by Biber’s contrapuntal dexterity, by the beautiful sonorities and by the way he introduces a deeper level of expression into the longer movements. There are moments, too, of startling originality – the pointillist treatment of the arpeggio motif at the start of Suite No 3, and the astonishing ending to the last suite, where the musical discourse is broken into smaller and smaller fragments.
The Purcell Quartet bring out these and many more facets of the music with playing that’s always lively and sweetly tuned. The many decisions on tempo and character are well taken – even the more surprising ones, such as the very moderate, smooth first Gigue in Suite No 5, sound entirely convincing in context.
The Violin Sonata comes at the disc’s midpoint; its broader canvas, with improvisatory passagework over static bass notes, a toccata-like episode in dotted rhythms and a substantial set of variations, makes an excellent contrast with Mensa sonora’s miniature movements. Catherine Mackintosh has this demanding music at her fingertips. Her manner avoids the extravagance of some Baroque violinists but she can be relied on to project the expressive, rhetorical character that’s always present in Biber’s figuration.
Strongly recommended.