Qobuz Store wallpaper

Categories:

Your cart is empty

Alan Choo|Biber: Mystery (Rosary) Sonatas

Biber: Mystery (Rosary) Sonatas

Alan Choo, Apollo's Fire & Jeannette Sorrell

Released on 1/03/24 by AVIE Records
Main artists: Alan Choo Apollo's Fire Jeannette Sorrell
Genre: Classical

Available in

24-Bit/96 kHz Stereo

Unlimited Streaming

Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps

Start my trial period and start listening to this album

Enjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription

Enjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription

Digital Download

Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.

The Mystery Sonatas (or "Rosary Sonatas") of Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber rank among the greatest examples of virtuoso program music in the entire history of the violin tradition. The set is probably more often recorded than performed; to do the whole thing is a bear, requiring (in most cases) frequent changes of violin as well a good deal of endurance; this recording was made over a series of sessions. Violinist Alan Choo is equal to the work's technical demands, which rival those in Bach's unaccompanied violin sonatas and partitas, and he is an expressive player who would give the novice listener a good shot at guessing the Passion story content on which the work is based. He has good control in the towering final passacaglia. The novelty in this performance is the hefty continuo group, drawn from the larger Apollo's Fire ensemble and led by its conductor and harpsichordist Jeannette Sorrell; the continuo group also contains cello, a pair of violas da gamba, lirone, theorbo, Baroque guitar, archlute, triple harp, chamber organ, and percussion (there are seven players in all, including Sorrell). This is a lot for a work that, as far as one can know at this remove, was probably intended for quiet contemplation (again, like Bach's sonatas and partitas) rather than for public display. The name "Rosary Sonatas" suggests this. On the other hand, the continuo forces are deployed so as to intensify the mood of the individual pieces and even, in some cases, to contribute to the programmatic representation. Would Biber have played the music this way? One can't really know, but it is a fresh look at the work, and Sorrell's additions are tastefully done. At the very least, this album announces an important new voice in the Baroque violin field.

© James Manheim /TiVo

Biber: Mystery (Rosary) Sonatas

Alan Choo

You are currently listening to samples.

Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.

Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.

From $17.49/month

1

Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 1 in D Minor “The Annunciation”: I. Praeludium

00:02:21

Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber , Composer - Jeannette Sorrell, Conductor - Apollo's Fire, Ensemble - Alan Choo, MainArtist

(C) 2024 Apollo’s Fire/Jeannette Sorrell (P) 2024 Apollo’s Fire/Jeannette Sorrell

2

Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 1 in D Minor “The Annunciation”: II. Aria (Allegro) - Variatio – Finale

00:03:39

Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber , Composer - Jeannette Sorrell, Conductor - Apollo's Fire, Ensemble - Alan Choo, MainArtist

(C) 2024 Apollo’s Fire/Jeannette Sorrell (P) 2024 Apollo’s Fire/Jeannette Sorrell

3

Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 2 in A Major “The Visitation”: I. Sonata

00:01:36

Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber , Composer - Jeannette Sorrell, Conductor - Apollo's Fire, Ensemble - Alan Choo, MainArtist

(C) 2024 Apollo’s Fire/Jeannette Sorrell (P) 2024 Apollo’s Fire/Jeannette Sorrell

4

Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 2 in A Major “The Visitation”: II. Allaman

00:02:38

Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber , Composer - Jeannette Sorrell, Conductor - Apollo's Fire, Ensemble - Alan Choo, MainArtist

(C) 2024 Apollo’s Fire/Jeannette Sorrell (P) 2024 Apollo’s Fire/Jeannette Sorrell

5

Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 2 in A Major “The Visitation”: III. Presto

00:00:48

Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber , Composer - Jeannette Sorrell, Conductor - Apollo's Fire, Ensemble - Alan Choo, MainArtist

(C) 2024 Apollo’s Fire/Jeannette Sorrell (P) 2024 Apollo’s Fire/Jeannette Sorrell

6

Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 3 in B Minor “The Nativity”: I. Sonata

00:01:35

Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber , Composer - Jeannette Sorrell, Conductor - Apollo's Fire, Ensemble - Alan Choo, MainArtist

(C) 2024 Apollo’s Fire/Jeannette Sorrell (P) 2024 Apollo’s Fire/Jeannette Sorrell

7

Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 3 in B Minor “The Nativity”: II. Courente - Double

00:03:14

Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber , Composer - Jeannette Sorrell, Conductor - Apollo's Fire, Ensemble - Alan Choo, MainArtist

(C) 2024 Apollo’s Fire/Jeannette Sorrell (P) 2024 Apollo’s Fire/Jeannette Sorrell

8

Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 3 in B Minor “The Nativity”: III. Adagio

00:02:10

Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber , Composer - Jeannette Sorrell, Conductor - Apollo's Fire, Ensemble - Alan Choo, MainArtist

(C) 2024 Apollo’s Fire/Jeannette Sorrell (P) 2024 Apollo’s Fire/Jeannette Sorrell

9

Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 4 in D Minor “The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple”: Ciacona

00:07:57

Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber , Composer - Jeannette Sorrell, Conductor - Apollo's Fire, Ensemble - Alan Choo, MainArtist

(C) 2024 Apollo’s Fire/Jeannette Sorrell (P) 2024 Apollo’s Fire/Jeannette Sorrell

10

Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 5 in A Major “The Finding of Jesus in the Temple”: I. Praeludium

00:00:53

Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber , Composer - Jeannette Sorrell, Conductor - Apollo's Fire, Ensemble - Alan Choo, MainArtist

(C) 2024 Apollo’s Fire/Jeannette Sorrell (P) 2024 Apollo’s Fire/Jeannette Sorrell

11

Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 5 in A Major “The Finding of Jesus in the Temple”: II. Allaman

00:01:33

Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber , Composer - Jeannette Sorrell, Conductor - Apollo's Fire, Ensemble - Alan Choo, MainArtist

(C) 2024 Apollo’s Fire/Jeannette Sorrell (P) 2024 Apollo’s Fire/Jeannette Sorrell

12

Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 5 in A Major “The Finding of Jesus in the Temple”: III. Guigue

00:01:25

Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber , Composer - Jeannette Sorrell, Conductor - Apollo's Fire, Ensemble - Alan Choo, MainArtist

(C) 2024 Apollo’s Fire/Jeannette Sorrell (P) 2024 Apollo’s Fire/Jeannette Sorrell

13

Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 5 in A Major “The Finding of Jesus in the Temple”: IV. Saraban – Double

00:03:08

Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber , Composer - Jeannette Sorrell, Conductor - Apollo's Fire, Ensemble - Alan Choo, MainArtist

(C) 2024 Apollo’s Fire/Jeannette Sorrell (P) 2024 Apollo’s Fire/Jeannette Sorrell

14

Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 6 in C Minor “The Agony in the Garden”: I. Lamento

00:03:45

Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber , Composer - Jeannette Sorrell, Conductor - Apollo's Fire, Ensemble - Alan Choo, MainArtist

(C) 2024 Apollo’s Fire/Jeannette Sorrell (P) 2024 Apollo’s Fire/Jeannette Sorrell

15

Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 6 in C Minor “The Agony in the Garden”: II. [Aria] - Adagio

00:04:12

Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber , Composer - Jeannette Sorrell, Conductor - Apollo's Fire, Ensemble - Alan Choo, MainArtist

(C) 2024 Apollo’s Fire/Jeannette Sorrell (P) 2024 Apollo’s Fire/Jeannette Sorrell

16

Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 7 in F Major “The Scourging at the Pillar": I. Allamanda - Variatio

00:04:49

Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber , Composer - Jeannette Sorrell, Conductor - Apollo's Fire, Ensemble - Alan Choo, MainArtist

(C) 2024 Apollo’s Fire/Jeannette Sorrell (P) 2024 Apollo’s Fire/Jeannette Sorrell

17

Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 7 in F Major “The Scourging at the Pillar": II. Sarabanda - Variatio

00:04:48

Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber , Composer - Jeannette Sorrell, Conductor - Apollo's Fire, Ensemble - Alan Choo, MainArtist

(C) 2024 Apollo’s Fire/Jeannette Sorrell (P) 2024 Apollo’s Fire/Jeannette Sorrell

18

Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 8 in B flat Major “The Crowning with Thorns”: I. Sonata: Adagio - Presto - [Adagio]

00:02:18

Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber , Composer - Jeannette Sorrell, Conductor - Apollo's Fire, Ensemble - Alan Choo, MainArtist

(C) 2024 Apollo’s Fire/Jeannette Sorrell (P) 2024 Apollo’s Fire/Jeannette Sorrell

19

Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 8 in B flat Major “The Crowning with Thorns”: II. Guigue - Double (Presto) - Double II

00:05:06

Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber , Composer - Jeannette Sorrell, Conductor - Apollo's Fire, Ensemble - Alan Choo, MainArtist

(C) 2024 Apollo’s Fire/Jeannette Sorrell (P) 2024 Apollo’s Fire/Jeannette Sorrell

20

Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 9 in A Minor “The Carrying of the Cross”: I. Sonata

00:02:21

Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber , Composer - Jeannette Sorrell, Conductor - Apollo's Fire, Ensemble - Alan Choo, MainArtist

(C) 2024 Apollo’s Fire/Jeannette Sorrell (P) 2024 Apollo’s Fire/Jeannette Sorrell

21

Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 9 in A Minor “The Carrying of the Cross”: II. Courente - Double - [Double II]

00:03:45

Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber , Composer - Jeannette Sorrell, Conductor - Apollo's Fire, Ensemble - Alan Choo, MainArtist

(C) 2024 Apollo’s Fire/Jeannette Sorrell (P) 2024 Apollo’s Fire/Jeannette Sorrell

22

Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 9 in A Minor “The Carrying of the Cross”: III. Finale

00:01:32

Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber , Composer - Jeannette Sorrell, Conductor - Apollo's Fire, Ensemble - Alan Choo, MainArtist

(C) 2024 Apollo’s Fire/Jeannette Sorrell (P) 2024 Apollo’s Fire/Jeannette Sorrell

23

Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 10 in G Minor “The Crucifixion and Death of Jesus”: I. Praeludium

00:01:09

Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber , Composer - Jeannette Sorrell, Conductor - Apollo's Fire, Ensemble - Alan Choo, MainArtist

(C) 2024 Apollo’s Fire/Jeannette Sorrell (P) 2024 Apollo’s Fire/Jeannette Sorrell

24

Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 10 in G Minor “The Crucifixion and Death of Jesus”: II. Aria - Variatio

00:08:06

Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber , Composer - Jeannette Sorrell, Conductor - Apollo's Fire, Ensemble - Alan Choo, MainArtist

(C) 2024 Apollo’s Fire/Jeannette Sorrell (P) 2024 Apollo’s Fire/Jeannette Sorrell

DISC 2

1

Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 11 in G Major “The Resurrection”: I. Sonata

00:02:35

Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber , Composer - Jeannette Sorrell, Conductor - Apollo's Fire, Ensemble - Alan Choo, MainArtist

(C) 2024 Apollo’s Fire/Jeannette Sorrell (P) 2024 Apollo’s Fire/Jeannette Sorrell

2

Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 11 in G Major “The Resurrection”: II. Surrexit Christus hodie

00:04:07

Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber , Composer - Jeannette Sorrell, Conductor - Apollo's Fire, Ensemble - Alan Choo, MainArtist

(C) 2024 Apollo’s Fire/Jeannette Sorrell (P) 2024 Apollo’s Fire/Jeannette Sorrell

3

Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 11 in G Major “The Resurrection”: III. Adagio

00:01:14

Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber , Composer - Jeannette Sorrell, Conductor - Apollo's Fire, Ensemble - Alan Choo, MainArtist

(C) 2024 Apollo’s Fire/Jeannette Sorrell (P) 2024 Apollo’s Fire/Jeannette Sorrell

4

Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 12 in C Major “The Ascension”: I. Intrada

00:00:38

Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber , Composer - Jeannette Sorrell, Conductor - Apollo's Fire, Ensemble - Alan Choo, MainArtist

(C) 2024 Apollo’s Fire/Jeannette Sorrell (P) 2024 Apollo’s Fire/Jeannette Sorrell

5

Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 12 in C Major “The Ascension”: II. Aria Tubicinum

00:01:23

Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber , Composer - Jeannette Sorrell, Conductor - Apollo's Fire, Ensemble - Alan Choo, MainArtist

(C) 2024 Apollo’s Fire/Jeannette Sorrell (P) 2024 Apollo’s Fire/Jeannette Sorrell

6

Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 12 in C Major “The Ascension”: III. Allamanda

00:02:32

Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber , Composer - Jeannette Sorrell, Conductor - Apollo's Fire, Ensemble - Alan Choo, MainArtist

(C) 2024 Apollo’s Fire/Jeannette Sorrell (P) 2024 Apollo’s Fire/Jeannette Sorrell

7

Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 12 in C Major “The Ascension”: IV. Courente - Double

00:03:08

Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber , Composer - Jeannette Sorrell, Conductor - Apollo's Fire, Ensemble - Alan Choo, MainArtist

(C) 2024 Apollo’s Fire/Jeannette Sorrell (P) 2024 Apollo’s Fire/Jeannette Sorrell

8

Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 13 in D Minor “The Descent of the Holy Spirit": I. Sonata

00:03:12

Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber , Composer - Jeannette Sorrell, Conductor - Apollo's Fire, Ensemble - Alan Choo, MainArtist

(C) 2024 Apollo’s Fire/Jeannette Sorrell (P) 2024 Apollo’s Fire/Jeannette Sorrell

9

Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 13 in D Minor “The Descent of the Holy Spirit”: II. Gavott - Guigue

00:03:12

Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber , Composer - Jeannette Sorrell, Conductor - Apollo's Fire, Ensemble - Alan Choo, MainArtist

(C) 2024 Apollo’s Fire/Jeannette Sorrell (P) 2024 Apollo’s Fire/Jeannette Sorrell

10

Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 13 in D Minor “The Descent of the Holy Spirit”: III. Sarabanda

00:01:36

Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber , Composer - Jeannette Sorrell, Conductor - Apollo's Fire, Ensemble - Alan Choo, MainArtist

(C) 2024 Apollo’s Fire/Jeannette Sorrell (P) 2024 Apollo’s Fire/Jeannette Sorrell

11

Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 14 in D Major “The Assumption of Mary into Heaven”: I. [Praeludium]

00:02:18

Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber , Composer - Jeannette Sorrell, Conductor - Apollo's Fire, Ensemble - Alan Choo, MainArtist

(C) 2024 Apollo’s Fire/Jeannette Sorrell (P) 2024 Apollo’s Fire/Jeannette Sorrell

12

Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 14 in D Major “The Assumption of Mary into Heaven”: II. Aria - Aria II - Guigue

00:06:29

Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber , Composer - Jeannette Sorrell, Conductor - Apollo's Fire, Ensemble - Alan Choo, MainArtist

(C) 2024 Apollo’s Fire/Jeannette Sorrell (P) 2024 Apollo’s Fire/Jeannette Sorrell

13

Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 15 in C Major "The Coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth": I. Sonata

00:01:37

Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber , Composer - Jeannette Sorrell, Conductor - Apollo's Fire, Ensemble - Alan Choo, MainArtist

(C) 2024 Apollo’s Fire/Jeannette Sorrell (P) 2024 Apollo’s Fire/Jeannette Sorrell

14

Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 15 in C Major "The Coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth": II. Aria – [Variatio]

00:06:09

Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber , Composer - Jeannette Sorrell, Conductor - Apollo's Fire, Ensemble - Alan Choo, MainArtist

(C) 2024 Apollo’s Fire/Jeannette Sorrell (P) 2024 Apollo’s Fire/Jeannette Sorrell

15

Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 15 in C Major "The Coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth": III. Canzon

00:02:23

Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber , Composer - Jeannette Sorrell, Conductor - Apollo's Fire, Ensemble - Alan Choo, MainArtist

(C) 2024 Apollo’s Fire/Jeannette Sorrell (P) 2024 Apollo’s Fire/Jeannette Sorrell

16

Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 15 in C Major "The Coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth": IV. Sarabanda

00:02:30

Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber , Composer - Jeannette Sorrell, Conductor - Apollo's Fire, Ensemble - Alan Choo, MainArtist

(C) 2024 Apollo’s Fire/Jeannette Sorrell (P) 2024 Apollo’s Fire/Jeannette Sorrell

17

Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 16 in G Minor “The Guardian Angel”: Passacaglia

00:09:32

Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber , Composer - Jeannette Sorrell, Conductor - Apollo's Fire, Ensemble - Alan Choo, MainArtist

(C) 2024 Apollo’s Fire/Jeannette Sorrell (P) 2024 Apollo’s Fire/Jeannette Sorrell

Album review

The Mystery Sonatas (or "Rosary Sonatas") of Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber rank among the greatest examples of virtuoso program music in the entire history of the violin tradition. The set is probably more often recorded than performed; to do the whole thing is a bear, requiring (in most cases) frequent changes of violin as well a good deal of endurance; this recording was made over a series of sessions. Violinist Alan Choo is equal to the work's technical demands, which rival those in Bach's unaccompanied violin sonatas and partitas, and he is an expressive player who would give the novice listener a good shot at guessing the Passion story content on which the work is based. He has good control in the towering final passacaglia. The novelty in this performance is the hefty continuo group, drawn from the larger Apollo's Fire ensemble and led by its conductor and harpsichordist Jeannette Sorrell; the continuo group also contains cello, a pair of violas da gamba, lirone, theorbo, Baroque guitar, archlute, triple harp, chamber organ, and percussion (there are seven players in all, including Sorrell). This is a lot for a work that, as far as one can know at this remove, was probably intended for quiet contemplation (again, like Bach's sonatas and partitas) rather than for public display. The name "Rosary Sonatas" suggests this. On the other hand, the continuo forces are deployed so as to intensify the mood of the individual pieces and even, in some cases, to contribute to the programmatic representation. Would Biber have played the music this way? One can't really know, but it is a fresh look at the work, and Sorrell's additions are tastefully done. At the very least, this album announces an important new voice in the Baroque violin field.

© James Manheim /TiVo

About the album

2 disc(s) - 41 track(s)
Total length: 02:09:23

Main artists: Alan Choo Apollo's Fire Jeannette Sorrell
Composer: Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber
Label: AVIE Records
Genre: Classical

Available in

24-Bit/96 kHz Stereo

(C) 2024 Apollo’s Fire/Jeannette Sorrell (P) 2024 Apollo’s Fire/Jeannette Sorrell

Improve album information

Why buy on Qobuz...

Stream or download your music

Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalogue with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
Zero DRM

The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
Choose the format best suited for you

Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
Listen to your purchases on our apps

Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.

On sale now...

Mélusine

Cécile McLorin Salvant

Cécile McLorin Salvant

Your Mother Should Know: Brad Mehldau Plays The Beatles

Brad Mehldau

Brad Mehldau

Tutu

Miles Davis

Miles Davis

LongGone

Joshua Redman

Joshua Redman

More on Qobuz

By Alan Choo

Biber: Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 9 in A Minor “The Carrying of the Cross”: I. Sonata

Alan Choo

Alan Choo

Biber: Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 1 in D Minor “The Annunciation”: II. Aria (Allegro) - Variatio – Finale

Alan Choo

Alan Choo

Playlists

Romantic Piano on Deutsche Grammophon

The Best Opera Arias on Deutsche Grammophon

Easter - Gems of Sacred Music

You may also like...

J.S. Bach: Goldberg Variations

Víkingur Ólafsson

Víkingur Ólafsson

Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach

Keith Jarrett

Keith Jarrett

Rachmaninoff: The Piano Concertos & Paganini Rhapsody

Yuja Wang

Yuja Wang

A Symphonic Celebration - Music from the Studio Ghibli Films of Hayao Miyazaki

Joe Hisaishi

Joe Hisaishi

Chopin: Piano Sonata No. 2, Op. 35 "Funeral March" - Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 29, Op. 106 "Hammerklavier"

Beatrice Rana

Beatrice Rana