Biber, Schmelzer: Music and Dance from the Viennese Court

Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber (Composer), Johann Heinrich Schmelzer (Composer), Anonymous (Composer), Ars Antiqua Austria (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Ars Antiqua Austria
• Composer: Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber, Johann Heinrich Schmelzer, Anonymous
• Audio CD (December 15, 1998)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Chesky Records
• ASIN: B00000DHZ4
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #430,556 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Sonata pro Tabula à 10, for 5 recorders, 2 violins, 3 violas & continuo in C major, C. 112: Grave, Adagio, Presto, Allegro , Aria

2. Balletti à 4, suite for violin, 2 violas & continuo in G major, C. 56: 1. Sonata: Adagio, Presto, Adagio, Presto, Adagio

3. Balletti à 4, suite for violin, 2 violas & continuo in G major, C. 56: 2. Allemande

4. Balletti à 4, suite for violin, 2 violas & continuo in G major, C. 56: 3. Courante

5. Balletti à 4, suite for violin, 2 violas & continuo in G major, C. 56: 4. Sarabande - (Aria)

6. Balletti à 4, suite for violin, 2 violas & continuo in G major, C. 56: 5. Gigue

7. Balletti à 4, suite for violin, 2 violas & continuo in G major, C. 56: 6. Sonatina: Adagio

8. Sonata tam Aris à 6, for 2 violins, 3 violas & continuo No. 5 in E minor (Sonatae No. 5), C. 118: Allegro, Adagio, Allegro, Presto, A

9. Partita ex Vienna: Branle de village, Courante, Sarabande - Brader Tantz zu Wien, Alio modo

10. Ballettae à 4, suite for violin, 2 violas & continuo in D major, C. 55: 1. (No title)

11. Ballettae à 4, suite for violin, 2 violas & continuo in D major, C. 55: 2. (No title)

12. Ballettae à 4, suite for violin, 2 violas & continuo in D major, C. 55: 3. (No title)

13. Ballettae à 4, suite for violin, 2 violas & continuo in D major, C. 55: 4. (No title)

14. Ballettae à 4, suite for violin, 2 violas & continuo in D major, C. 55: 5. (No title)

15. Ballettae à 4, suite for violin, 2 violas & continuo in D major, C. 55: 6. (No title)

16. Ballettae à 4, suite for violin, 2 violas & continuo in D major, C. 55: 7. Minuett

17. Sonata ad tabulam in G major: Allegro

18. Sonata ad tabulam in G major: Adagio

19. Sonata ad tabulam in G major: Allegro

20. Balletto No.1 di zingari in D minor: 1. Aria 1: Borea, Allegro

See all 45 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A MELODIOUS "EAR MASSAGE", February 18, 2003

By 

Melvyn M. Sobel "Melvyn M. Sobel" (Freeport, New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Biber, Schmelzer: Music and Dance from the Viennese Court (Audio CD)

A fetching parlay of sundry sonatas and dance music ("balletti") by contemporaries Heinrich Biber [1644-1704] and Johann Schmelzer [1620-1680], the former known for his rather austere violin works, the latter his innumerable instrumental ballet suites. Remarkable about this collection is its melodic appeal, as well as its diverse, and diverting, invention. No hint of dour academia surfaces here in music originating from Austria under the umbrella of the "Viennese Court." No pedagogy, either, just attractive, smoothly charming and comforting compositions intended, over three hundred years ago, for exactly this purpose.

Special mention should be made concerning the thoroughly delightful period instrument performances by Ars Antiqua Austria, under director, and first violinist, Gunnar Letzbor, assisted by the excellent Recorder Consort, under leader and soloist Michael Oman, using non-period instruments that blend perfectly. The accessibility of this music is made tantamount in a recital that must certainly be a model of period instrument practice.

Further mention should be made relative to the recording venue, the St. Florian Monastery in Austria, whose intimate ambience cocoons the listener in a realm of sound completed wedded to the music.

[Running time: 70:04]