What makes art timeless? Is it its ability to engage the entire spectrum of our emotions, or its power to meet us where we are and change us for the better? Like the works of Shakespeare, the music of Heinrich Biber is both earthy and sublime, tuneful and transcendent. It aspires to the sacred yet is not afraid to dance in the pub, and is ablaze with virtuosity and innovation.

Leave the world behind and journey with baroque violinist Tekla Cunningham, viola da gamba player Joanna Blendulf, and organist/harpsichordist Henry Lebedinsky into the world of Biber and his 17th century Austrian contemporaries, a musical feast for all the senses and a balm for the soul. Feel the resonance of two beautiful and rare violins – a Venetian violin from 1746 by Sanctus Seraphim, and a 1720s violin piccolo from Tyrol.

PROGRAM

The Annunciation, from the Rosary Sonatas           Heinrich I. F. Biber (1644-1704)

Sonatina con altrie arie for viola da gamba and cto.          Augustinius Kertzinger (1622-1678)

Ciaccona in A                                  Johann Heinrich Schmelzer (c. 1620-1623-1680)

Toccata in E minor for organ                     Georg Reutter der Ältere (1656-1738)

Sonata Prima                                                            (Ignazio Albertini c. 1644-1685)

Intermission

Sonata in F major, from Sonatæ Unarum Fidium                              J.H Schmelzer

Lament on the sorrowful death of Ferdinand IV
 Johann Jakob Froberger (1616-1667)
Suite in C major  - Courante - Sarabande - Gigue

Sonata No. 6 in F                                            Philipp Heinrich Erlebach (1657-1714)
Affettuoso – Allegro – Grave
Allemande
Courante
Sarabande and Variation
Gigue – Vivace and presto

Sonata 2 in d minor                                                                              H. I. F. Biber
(Prelude)
Aria – Variatio
Adagio
(Gigue)
Finale - Grave