Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber - Definition and Overview

Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber (August 12, 1644 – May 3, 1704) was a Bohemian composer and violinist.

He was born in Wartenberg (now Stráž pod Ralskem, Czech Republic). In 1684 he became Kapellmeister in Salzburg, where he died twenty years later.

His prolific works show a predilection for canonic use and harmonic diapason that pre-date the later Baroque works of Johann Pachelbel and Johann Sebastian Bach. He was known as a violin virtuoso and is best known for his violin works, many of which employ scordatura (unconventional tunings of the open strings). He wrote much choral and chamber music, concerti, operas and a number of more well-known pieces such as the "Nightwatchman" Serenade and "Harmonia Artificiosa."

A work which is currently attributed to him (formerly it was attributed to Orazio Benevoli) is the Missa salisburgensis, an astonishing polyphonic setting of the Mass for 53 independent voices. Whether or not it is by Biber, it has more independent contrapuntal lines than any other piece of music from before the 20th century.

Works

• 8 violin sonatas
• Requiem
• 2 Operas
• Cantatas
• Missa Salisburgensis (attrib; for 53 independent voices)
• Missa Sancti Henrici
• Missa Bruxellensis
• Missa Scala Aretina
• Missa Christi resurgentis
• Sonata "La battalia"
• Mensa sonora (Sonatas for 2 Viol.,Viola und Baß)
• Die "Sonatae Tam Aris Quam Aulis servientes" for 6--8 Instruments
• 12 Sonatas "Fidicinium sacroprofanum"
• 7 Trio Sonatas "Harmonia artificioso-ariosa: diversi mode accordata"
• "Die liederliche Gesellschaft von allerley Humor"
• "Sonata representativa"
• 16 "The Rosary Sonatas" in scordatura (a.k.a. "The Mystery Sonatas")