Biber: Mystery (Rosary) Sonatas Alan Choo, Apollos Fire, Jeannette Sorrell

• Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber (1644 - 1704): Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 1 in D Minor “The Annunciation”:
• 1Biber: Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 1 in D Minor “The Annunciation”: I. Praeludium02:21
• 2Biber: Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 1 in D Minor “The Annunciation”: II. Aria (Allegro) - Variatio – Finale03:39
• Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 2 in A Major “The Visitation”:
• 3Biber: Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 2 in A Major “The Visitation”: I. Sonata01:36
• 4Biber: Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 2 in A Major “The Visitation”: II. Allaman02:38
• 5Biber: Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 2 in A Major “The Visitation”: III. Presto00:48
• Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 3 in B Minor “The Nativity”:
• 6Biber: Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 3 in B Minor “The Nativity”: I. Sonata01:35
• 7Biber: Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 3 in B Minor “The Nativity”: II. Courente - Double03:14
• 8Biber: Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 3 in B Minor “The Nativity”: III. Adagio02:10
• Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 4 in D Minor “The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple”:
• 9Biber: Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 4 in D Minor “The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple”: Ciacona07:57
• Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 5 in A Major “The Finding of Jesus in the Temple”:
• 10Biber: Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 5 in A Major “The Finding of Jesus in the Temple”: I. Praeludium00:53
• 11Biber: Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 5 in A Major “The Finding of Jesus in the Temple”: II. Allaman01:33
• 12Biber: Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 5 in A Major “The Finding of Jesus in the Temple”: III. Guigue01:25
• 13Biber: Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 5 in A Major “The Finding of Jesus in the Temple”: IV. Saraban – Double03:08
• Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 6 in C Minor “The Agony in the Garden”:
• 14Biber: Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 6 in C Minor “The Agony in the Garden”: I. Lamento03:45
• 15Biber: Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 6 in C Minor “The Agony in the Garden”: II. [Aria] - Adagio04:12
• Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 7 in F Major “The Scourging at the Pillar":
• 16Biber: Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 7 in F Major “The Scourging at the Pillar": I. Allamanda - Variatio04:49
• 17Biber: Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 7 in F Major “The Scourging at the Pillar": II. Sarabanda - Variatio04:48
• Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 8 in B flat Major “The Crowning with Thorns”:
• 18Biber: Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 8 in B flat Major “The Crowning with Thorns”: I. Sonata: Adagio - Presto - [Adagio]02:18
• 19Biber: Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 8 in B flat Major “The Crowning with Thorns”: II. Guigue - Double (Presto) - Double II05:06
• Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 9 in A Minor “The Carrying of the Cross”:
• 20Biber: Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 9 in A Minor “The Carrying of the Cross”: I. Sonata02:21
• 21Biber: Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 9 in A Minor “The Carrying of the Cross”: II. Courente - Double - [Double II]03:45
• 22Biber: Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 9 in A Minor “The Carrying of the Cross”: III. Finale01:32
• Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 10 in G Minor “The Crucifixion and Death of Jesus”:
• 23Biber: Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 10 in G Minor “The Crucifixion and Death of Jesus”: I. Praeludium01:09
• 24Biber: Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 10 in G Minor “The Crucifixion and Death of Jesus”: II. Aria - Variatio08:06
• Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 11 in G Major “The Resurrection”:
• 25Biber: Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 11 in G Major “The Resurrection”: I. Sonata02:35
• 26Biber: Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 11 in G Major “The Resurrection”: II. Surrexit Christus hodie04:07
• 27Biber: Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 11 in G Major “The Resurrection”: III. Adagio01:14
• Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 12 in C Major “The Ascension”:
• 28Biber: Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 12 in C Major “The Ascension”: I. Intrada00:38
• 29Biber: Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 12 in C Major “The Ascension”: II. Aria Tubicinum01:23
• 30Biber: Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 12 in C Major “The Ascension”: III. Allamanda02:32
• 31Biber: Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 12 in C Major “The Ascension”: IV. Courente - Double03:08
• Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 13 in D Minor “The Descent of the Holy Spirit":
• 32Biber: Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 13 in D Minor “The Descent of the Holy Spirit": I. Sonata03:12
• 33Biber: Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 13 in D Minor “The Descent of the Holy Spirit”: II. Gavott - Guigue03:12
• 34Biber: Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 13 in D Minor “The Descent of the Holy Spirit”: III. Sarabanda01:36
• Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 14 in D Major “The Assumption of Mary into Heaven”:
• 35Biber: Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 14 in D Major “The Assumption of Mary into Heaven”: I. [Praeludium]02:18
• 36Biber: Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 14 in D Major “The Assumption of Mary into Heaven”: II. Aria - Aria II - Guigue06:29
• Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 15 in C Major "The Coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth":
• 37Biber: Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 15 in C Major "The Coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth": I. Sonata01:37
• 38Biber: Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 15 in C Major "The Coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth": II. Aria – [Variatio]06:09
• 39Biber: Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 15 in C Major "The Coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth": III. Canzon02:23
• 40Biber: Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 15 in C Major "The Coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth": IV. Sarabanda02:30
• Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 16 in G Minor “The Guardian Angel”:
• 41Biber: Mystery (Rosary) Sonata: No. 16 in G Minor “The Guardian Angel”: Passacaglia09:32
• Total Runtime02:09:23

Info for Biber: Mystery (Rosary) Sonatas

The Mystery Sonatas by Austrian composer Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber, believed to have been penned in the 1670s, remain unsurpassed for their virtuosity and extended use of scordatura, a unique tuning system that underscores different aural colours and timbres of the violin, thereby illuminating the pictorial themes of the Rosary – the processions devoted to major moments in the lives of Christ and the Virgin Mary – which Biber’s work depicts.

Singaporean violinist Alan Choo, the vibrant leader of acclaimed baroque ensemble Apollo’s Fire, headlines a dynamic and descriptive recording of the Mystery Sonatas, enhancing the scordatura with six different violins that require 15 individual tunings. He explains, “The use of a unique scordatura tuning for each sonata means that a violinist needs to use multiple violins if performing several of the pieces in the same week – each violin kept at the tuning of its respective sonata. Otherwise, the constant re-tuning of a violin would destabilize its tuning. I used a total of six violins in this recording. The personality of each instrument shines through.”

Joined by a chamber ensemble of his Apollo’s Fire colleagues, including founding director Jeannette Sorrell on harpsichord, Choo navigates Biber’s extended techniques with aplomb and devotion to the 15 programmatic sonatas which are compiled into three cycles – the Joyful Mysteries (the Angel Gabriel delivers the news to Mary that she will be the mother of the Messiah), Sorrowful Mysteries (Jesus’ agony, knowing he is about to be betrayed) and Glorious Mysteries (the Resurrection of Christ and his ascent to heaven) – and are crowned by the timeless finale, Passacaglia for solo violin.

“The violinist’s playing is extraordinary – as fresh and improvisatory as though he were composing each sonata on the spot, but also infused with an infectious emotional ardor.” (Cleveland Classical)

Alan Choo, violin
Jeannette Sorrell, director, harpsichord
Apollo’s Fire

Alan Choo
whose performances have been described by The Straits Times Singapore as “an intoxicating brew of poetry and dare-devilry,” performs on the global stage as a leading soloist, chamber musician and historical specialist. He made his solo debut with Apollo’s Fire at the Tanglewood and Ravinia Music Festivals in 2017, and currently serves as Concertmaster and Assistant Artistic Director for the ensemble. He is also Founder and Artistic Director of Red Dot Baroque, Singapore’s first professional period ensemble and Ensemble-in-Residence at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music. In May 2019, he was invited as guest concertmaster and soloist with the Shanghai-based baroque ensemble, Shanghai Camerata. He has also appeared as a soloist with the St. Petersburg Symphony Orchestra, Singapore Symphony Orchestra, Singapore Chinese Orchestra, Orchestra of the Music Makers and more.

Alan is the recipient of the Early Music Award 2016 from Peabody Conservatory, the Paul Abisheganaden Grant for Artistic Excellence 2015, the Goh Soon Tioe Centenary Award 2014, the Grace Clagett Ranney Prize in Chamber Music 2014 and 1st prize in the National Piano and Violin Competition 2011, Artist Category. He has also given masterclasses and lectures in violin performance, performance practice and stage presence to college students at the Cleveland Institute of Music, Michigan State University, Baldwin-Wallace College, Bowling Green State University, Yong Siew Toh Conservatory and Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts.

Alan holds a Doctorate in Historical Performance from Case Western Reserve University, as well as degrees from the Peabody Conservatory and the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory. His teachers include Julie Andrijeski, Risa Browder, Victor Danchenko and Alexander Souptel. He is currently recording an album of the complete Rosary Sonatas by Heinrich Biber with Apollo’s Fire.

Booklet for Biber: Mystery (Rosary) Sonatas