Heinrich Biber: Mensa Sonora seu Musica instrumentalis

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The playing is infectiously uninhibited and technically immaculate – a programme of unqualified pleasure. — BBC Music Magazine More…

Release Date: 31st Dec 2007
Catalogue No: CHAN0748
Label: Chandos
Series: Chaconne
Length: 58 minutes

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Biber: Mensa sonora, seu Musica instrumentalis, Pars 1 in D Major, C. 69

Work length8:52

$7.00

$9.10

$12.25

Purcell Quartet, Jane Rogers
Recorded: 1-3 October 2006
Recording Venue: St Bartholomew's Church, Orford, Sufolk, United Kingdom

I. Sonata. Grave - Allegro

Track length1:23

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

II. Allamanda

Track length1:42

$1.00

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III. Courante

Track length0:58

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

IV. Sarabanda

Track length1:09

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

V. Gavotte

Track length1:03

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

VI. Gigue

Track length1:56

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

VII. Sonatina. Adagio

Track length0:41

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

Biber: Mensa sonora, seu Musica instrumentalis, Pars 2 in F Major, C. 70

Work length5:54

$6.00

$7.80

$10.50

Purcell Quartet, Jane Rogers
Recorded: 1-3 October 2006
Recording Venue: St Bartholomew's Church, Orford, Sufolk, United Kingdom

I. Intrada. Alla breve

Track length0:30

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

II. Balletto. Alla breve

Track length1:21

$1.00

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$1.75

III. Sarabanda

Track length1:16

$1.00

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IV. Balletto. Alla breve

Track length0:50

$1.00

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V. Sarabanda

Track length1:03

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

VI. Balletto. Alla breve

Track length0:54

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

Biber: Mensa sonora, seu Musica instrumentalis, Pars 3 in A Minor, C. 71

Work length8:06

$5.00

$6.50

$8.75

Purcell Quartet, Jane Rogers
Recorded: 1-3 October 2006
Recording Venue: St Bartholomew's Church, Orford, Sufolk, United Kingdom

I. Gagliarda. Allegro

Track length1:10

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

II. Sarabanda

Track length0:54

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

III. Aria

Track length1:04

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

IV. Ciacona

Track length3:09

$1.00

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$1.75

V. Sonatina

Track length1:49

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

Biber: Violin Sonata in A Major, C. 147

Work length11:53

$2.00

$2.60

$3.50

Catherine Mackintosh, Purcell Quartet, Jane Rogers
Recorded: 1-3 October 2006
Recording Venue: St Bartholomew's Church, Orford, Sufolk, United Kingdom

Sonata. Adagio

Track length5:01

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

Aria - Variations I-XI - Aria

Track length6:52

$1.00

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$1.75

Biber: Mensa sonora, seu Musica instrumentalis, Pars 4 in B-Flat Major, C. 72

Work length9:58

$7.00

$9.10

$12.25

Purcell Quartet, Jane Rogers
Recorded: 1-3 October 2006
Recording Venue: St Bartholomew's Church, Orford, Sufolk, United Kingdom

I. Sonata. Grave - Allegro - Adagio

Track length1:23

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

II. Allamanda

Track length1:46

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

III. Courante

Track length1:03

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

IV. Balletto

Track length0:38

$1.00

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$1.75

V. Sarabanda

Track length1:13

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

VI. Gigue. Presto

Track length1:18

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

VII. Sonatina. Adagio

Track length2:37

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

Biber: Mensa sonora, seu Musica instrumentalis, Pars 5 in E Major, C. 73

Work length5:49

$7.00

$9.10

$12.25

Purcell Quartet, Jane Rogers
Recorded: 1-3 October 2006
Recording Venue: St Bartholomew's Church, Orford, Sufolk, United Kingdom

I. Intrada. Allegro

Track length0:58

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

II. Balletto

Track length0:32

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

III. Trezza

Track length0:28

$1.00

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$1.75

IV. Gigue

Track length1:06

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

V. Gavotte. Alla breve

Track length0:50

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

VI. Gigue

Track length1:00

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

VII. Retirada

Track length0:55

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

Biber: Mensa sonora, seu Musica instrumentalis, Pars 6 in G Minor, C. 74

Work length8:19

$7.00

$9.10

$12.25

Purcell Quartet, Jane Rogers
Recorded: 1-3 October 2006
Recording Venue: St Bartholomew's Church, Orford, Sufolk, United Kingdom

I. Sonata. Adagio - Presto

Track length0:50

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

II. Aria

Track length1:17

$1.00

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$1.75

III. Canario. Presto

Track length0:33

$1.00

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IV. Amener

Track length1:26

$1.00

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V. Trezza

Track length0:28

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

VI. Ciacona

Track length3:05

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

VII. Sonatina. Adagio - Presto

Track length0:40

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

Reviews
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Reviews

The playing is infectiously uninhibited and technically immaculate – a programme of unqualified pleasure.

March 2008

The Purcell Quartet bring Biber's often highly sophisticated writing to life with grace and vigour.

2010

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.

I am drawn to the sheer beauty and intimacy of the ensemble playing here... A strongly recommended new release

March 2008

Mensa sonora, published in Salzburg in 1680, is scored for four-part strings and basso continuo. 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. The Purcell Quartet bring out these and many more facets of the music with playing that's always lively and sweetly tuned. The Violin Sonata... makes an excellent contrast with Mensa sonora's miniature movements. Catherine Mackintosh has this demanding music at her fingertips. Strongly recommended.

Offer,Heinrich Biber: Mensa Sonora seu Musica instrumentalis

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