Between sacred and profane

Heinrich Biber: Sonatae Tam Aris, quam Aulis servientes

The title of Heinrich Biber's sonatas from 1676 can be translated as "as much for the altar as for the table". The composer seemed to specialize in the overlap between the ecclesiastical and the courtly, religious and secular, sacred and profane. Blurring the lines between these spheres is evidence of Biber's own faith, but also a spirit of experimentation and innovation, and a firm belief that music is a central feature of life. A predilection towards theology turns to mysticism, coming to full flower in his Mystery Sonatas, also from 1676.

Biber was the Sir Paul McCartney of his day. In 1690 he was raised to nobility by Emperor Leopold I, with the title of Biber von Bibern. As with Elisabeth Jacquet de la Guerre and Louis XIV a few decades later, it's encouraging to see great composers receiving sincere praise from monarchs; so often we hear stories of geniuses unappreciated in their lifetimes, their careers blighted by Philistine taste-makers and powerful people.

The Sonatae Tam Aris, quam Aulis servientes are made up of a mixture of styles: French dance suite and Italian sonata, differing orchestration, a variety of moods, and an alternation between virtuosity and contemplation. Trumpet fanfares are inserted in this version, calls that evoke the majesty of both the Church and the Monarchy and Nobility. This is an entire world-view contained in about 80 minutes of music.

This music is especially well served on disc. I've sampled the versions by Ars Antiqua Austria, from 2015; Combattimento Consort Amsterdam, from 2007; and the Purcell Quartet, from 1996. But my go-to disc for this music is the 1998 recording from The Rare Fruits Council under Manfredo Kraemer. That's not supplanted by this new version from Harmonie Universelle, but it can be difficult to replace a well-loved recording more than twenty years old. I was certainly impressed with the virtuosity and violin sound of the two soloists, Florian Deuter and Monica Waisman, as well as the ensemble playing of the musicians of Harmonie Universelle. We're lucky to have such a wealth of Biber interpretations!

This album will be released on January 20, 2023.