Biber Missa Christi Resurgentis
Two enjoyable approaches to a long-forgotten antiphonal Mass by Biber
View record and artist detailsRecord and Artist Details
Composer or Director: Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber
Genre:
Vocal
Label: Harmonia Mundi
Magazine Review Date: 11/2005
Media Format: CD or Download
Media Runtime: 78
Mastering:
Stereo
DDD
Catalogue Number: HMU907 397

Tracks:
Composition | Artist Credit |
---|---|
Missa Christi Resurgentis |
Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber, Composer
(The) English Concert Andrew Manze, Conductor Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber, Composer |
Sonatae tam aris quam aulis servientes, Movement: Sonata I in C |
Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber, Composer
(The) English Concert Andrew Manze, Conductor Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber, Composer |
Sonatae tam aris quam aulis servientes, Movement: Sonata IV in C |
Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber, Composer
(The) English Concert Andrew Manze, Conductor Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber, Composer |
Sonata a 6 |
Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber, Composer
(The) English Concert Andrew Manze, Conductor Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber, Composer |
(12) Sonatas, 'Fidicinium sacro-profanum', Movement: B minor a 8 |
Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber, Composer
(The) English Concert Andrew Manze, Conductor Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber, Composer |
(12) Sonatas, 'Fidicinium sacro-profanum', Movement: D minor a 5 |
Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber, Composer
(The) English Concert Andrew Manze, Conductor Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber, Composer |
(12) Sonatas, 'Fidicinium sacro-profanum', Movement: E minor a 6 |
Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber, Composer
(The) English Concert Andrew Manze, Conductor Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber, Composer |
(12) Sonatas, 'Fidicinium sacro-profanum', Movement: Sonata VII |
Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber, Composer
(The) English Concert Andrew Manze, Conductor Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber, Composer |
(12) Sonatas, 'Fidicinium sacro-profanum', Movement: Sonata XI |
Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber, Composer
(The) English Concert Andrew Manze, Conductor Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber, Composer |
Composer or Director: Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber
Genre:
Vocal
Label: Kleos Classics
Magazine Review Date: 11/2005
Media Format: Super Audio CD
Media Runtime: 74
Mastering:
Stereo
Catalogue Number: KL5135

Tracks:
Composition | Artist Credit |
---|---|
Missa Christi Resurgentis |
Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber, Composer
Andrew Parrott, Conductor Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber, Composer New York Collegium |
Mystery (Rosary) Sonatas and Passacaglia, Movement: G: The Resurrection |
Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber, Composer
Andrew Parrott, Conductor Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber, Composer New York Collegium |
Author: Richard Lawrence
After perhaps descending to the crypt to sneer at the tomb of Prince-Archbishop Hieronymus Colloredo, Mozart’s employer, the visitor to the Baroque cathedral of Salzburg cannot fail to be impressed by the interior with its four galleries. Biber, who had joined the service of the Archbishop Maximilian Gandolph in 1670, made full use of the cathedral’s spatial opportunities: two four-part choirs are complemented by string and brass groups used, like Venetian cori spezzati, both antiphonally and in combination.
The Mass was probably written for Easter 1674. It begins with a sonata, the strings answering the brass. Andrew Manze takes it straight; while Andrew Parrott, by slurring the second and third notes, adds an appealing rakishness to the phrase. ‘Christe eleison’ sees the first of several appearances by three basses, a difficult ensemble to balance. The Americans, with a light first bass, make it sound quite airy. The English Concert, at a slower speed and a lower pitch, tend to growl away in their boots. The ‘Et exspecto’ section of the Credo finds Manze’s sopranos singing high with a real sense of awe.
In general, the singing of the Choir of The English Concert is the more accomplished: some of the solo work in Parrott’s choir sounds tentative and the boy alto causes moments of unease for the listener. The orchestral playing is first-rate on both recordings.
Which to choose must depend on the supplementary pieces. Manze includes five sonatas for strings. The tonal palette is limited, as is usual for the time, to the home key with occasional excursions to the relative major or minor. The first movement of the Sonata a 6 for trumpet and strings reappears on the American disc. Here, however, the context is that of an actual service. It starts with an alternatim setting of the introit Resurrexi by Johann Stadlmayr and includes, as well as the chanting of the epistle and gospel, organ pieces by Kerll and Poglietti. There are also two string sonatas from the Sonatae tam aris collection, one of which includes a fugue theme that anticipates the Allegro of Handel’s Concerto grosso, Op 3 No 2. Having been rather bored recently by Biber’s Requiem in F minor, I’m glad to say that I greatly enjoyed these recordings.
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