David Lang: Mystery Sonatas

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It goes without saying that the title "Mystery Sonatas" by David Lang (born in 1957) is based on the Rosary Sonatas, also known as the "Mystery Sonatas", written in 1678 by Ignaz Biber. That said, Lang deviates from the model in several ways: his sonatas are for solo violin, while Biber accompanied some of them with a continuo. What’s more, Lang does not use the "scordattura" technique, the unusual violin tuning used by Biber to create incredible sonorities. This is not to say that Lang's work is not extraordinary, especially when you consider he wrote it for violinist Augustin Hadelich, who records it here as a world premiere. Another bridge between Lang and Biber is the three-part design: joy, pain and glory. Lang's affiliation with the minimalist movement is of course evident; however, his frequent incursions into rock, modernism and mockery have no place here, as he seeks above all to express an introspection around the mysteries - religious or otherwise - of life and beauty. Here, Hadelich beautifully takes all the composer's conceptions into his own hands. © SM/Qobuz