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℗ 2024 Apollo’s Fire/Jeannette Sorrell
Released | March 1, 2024 |
Duration | 2h 09m 23s |
Record Label | AVIE Records |
Catalogue No. | AV2656 |
Genre | Classical (Baroque) |
Biber: Mystery (Rosary) Sonatas
Alan Choo, Apollo's Fire, Jeannette Sorrell
Available in 96 kHz / 24-bit AIFF, FLAC high resolution audio formats
Mystery (Rosary) Sonata
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1.1
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No. 1 in D Minor “The Annunciation”: I. Praeludium
Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber; Alan Choo; Apollo's Fire; Jeannette Sorrell |
2:21 | |||
1.2
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No. 1 in D Minor “The Annunciation”: II. Aria (Allegro) - Variatio – Finale
Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber; Alan Choo; Apollo's Fire; Jeannette Sorrell |
3:39 | |||
1.3
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No. 2 in A Major “The Visitation”: I. Sonata
Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber; Alan Choo; Apollo's Fire; Jeannette Sorrell |
1:36 | |||
1.4
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No. 2 in A Major “The Visitation”: II. Allaman
Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber; Alan Choo; Apollo's Fire; Jeannette Sorrell |
2:38 | |||
1.5
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No. 2 in A Major “The Visitation”: III. Presto
Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber; Alan Choo; Apollo's Fire; Jeannette Sorrell |
0:48 | |||
1.6
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No. 3 in B Minor “The Nativity”: I. Sonata
Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber; Alan Choo; Apollo's Fire; Jeannette Sorrell |
1:35 | |||
1.7
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No. 3 in B Minor “The Nativity”: II. Courente - Double
Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber; Alan Choo; Apollo's Fire; Jeannette Sorrell |
3:14 | |||
1.8
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No. 3 in B Minor “The Nativity”: III. Adagio
Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber; Alan Choo; Apollo's Fire; Jeannette Sorrell |
2:10 | |||
1.9
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No. 4 in D Minor “The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple”: Ciacona
Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber; Alan Choo; Apollo's Fire; Jeannette Sorrell |
7:57 | |||
1.10
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No. 5 in A Major “The Finding of Jesus in the Temple”: I. Praeludium
Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber; Alan Choo; Apollo's Fire; Jeannette Sorrell |
0:53 | |||
1.11
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No. 5 in A Major “The Finding of Jesus in the Temple”: II. Allaman
Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber; Alan Choo; Apollo's Fire; Jeannette Sorrell |
1:33 | |||
1.12
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No. 5 in A Major “The Finding of Jesus in the Temple”: III. Guigue
Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber; Alan Choo; Apollo's Fire; Jeannette Sorrell |
1:25 | |||
1.13
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No. 5 in A Major “The Finding of Jesus in the Temple”: IV. Saraban – Double
Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber; Alan Choo; Apollo's Fire; Jeannette Sorrell |
3:08 | |||
1.14
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No. 6 in C Minor “The Agony in the Garden”: I. Lamento
Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber; Alan Choo; Apollo's Fire; Jeannette Sorrell |
3:45 | |||
1.15
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No. 6 in C Minor “The Agony in the Garden”: II. (Aria) - Adagio
Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber; Alan Choo; Apollo's Fire; Jeannette Sorrell |
4:12 | |||
1.16
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No. 7 in F Major “The Scourging at the Pillar": I. Allamanda - Variatio
Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber; Alan Choo; Apollo's Fire; Jeannette Sorrell |
4:49 | |||
1.17
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No. 7 in F Major “The Scourging at the Pillar": II. Sarabanda - Variatio
Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber; Alan Choo; Apollo's Fire; Jeannette Sorrell |
4:48 | |||
1.18
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No. 8 in B flat Major “The Crowning with Thorns”: I. Sonata: Adagio - Presto - (Adagio)
Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber; Alan Choo; Apollo's Fire; Jeannette Sorrell |
2:18 | |||
1.19
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No. 8 in B flat Major “The Crowning with Thorns”: II. Guigue - Double (Presto) - Double II
Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber; Alan Choo; Apollo's Fire; Jeannette Sorrell |
5:06 | |||
1.20
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No. 9 in A Minor “The Carrying of the Cross”: I. Sonata
Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber; Alan Choo; Apollo's Fire; Jeannette Sorrell |
2:21 | |||
1.21
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No. 9 in A Minor “The Carrying of the Cross”: II. Courente - Double - (Double II)
Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber; Alan Choo; Apollo's Fire; Jeannette Sorrell |
3:45 | |||
1.22
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No. 9 in A Minor “The Carrying of the Cross”: III. Finale
Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber; Alan Choo; Apollo's Fire; Jeannette Sorrell |
1:32 | |||
1.23
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No. 10 in G Minor “The Crucifixion and Death of Jesus”: I. Praeludium
Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber; Alan Choo; Apollo's Fire; Jeannette Sorrell |
1:09 | |||
1.24
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No. 10 in G Minor “The Crucifixion and Death of Jesus”: II. Aria - Variatio
Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber; Alan Choo; Apollo's Fire; Jeannette Sorrell |
8:06 | |||
2.1
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No. 11 in G Major “The Resurrection”: I. Sonata
Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber; Alan Choo; Apollo's Fire; Jeannette Sorrell |
2:35 | |||
2.2
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No. 11 in G Major “The Resurrection”: II. Surrexit Christus hodie
Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber; Alan Choo; Apollo's Fire; Jeannette Sorrell |
4:07 | |||
2.3
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No. 11 in G Major “The Resurrection”: III. Adagio
Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber; Alan Choo; Apollo's Fire; Jeannette Sorrell |
1:14 | |||
2.4
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No. 12 in C Major “The Ascension”: I. Intrada
Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber; Alan Choo; Apollo's Fire; Jeannette Sorrell |
0:38 | |||
2.5
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No. 12 in C Major “The Ascension”: II. Aria Tubicinum
Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber; Alan Choo; Apollo's Fire; Jeannette Sorrell |
1:23 | |||
2.6
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No. 12 in C Major “The Ascension”: III. Allamanda
Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber; Alan Choo; Apollo's Fire; Jeannette Sorrell |
2:32 | |||
2.7
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No. 12 in C Major “The Ascension”: IV. Courente - Double
Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber; Alan Choo; Apollo's Fire; Jeannette Sorrell |
3:08 | |||
2.8
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No. 13 in D Minor “The Descent of the Holy Spirit": I. Sonata
Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber; Alan Choo; Apollo's Fire; Jeannette Sorrell |
3:12 | |||
2.9
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No. 13 in D Minor “The Descent of the Holy Spirit”: II. Gavott - Guigue
Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber; Alan Choo; Apollo's Fire; Jeannette Sorrell |
3:12 | |||
2.10
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No. 13 in D Minor “The Descent of the Holy Spirit”: III. Sarabanda
Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber; Alan Choo; Apollo's Fire; Jeannette Sorrell |
1:36 | |||
2.11
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No. 14 in D Major “The Assumption of Mary into Heaven”: I. (Praeludium)
Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber; Alan Choo; Apollo's Fire; Jeannette Sorrell |
2:18 | |||
2.12
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No. 14 in D Major “The Assumption of Mary into Heaven”: II. Aria - Aria II - Guigue
Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber; Alan Choo; Apollo's Fire; Jeannette Sorrell |
6:29 | |||
2.13
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No. 15 in C Major "The Coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth": I. Sonata
Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber; Alan Choo; Apollo's Fire; Jeannette Sorrell |
1:37 | |||
2.14
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No. 15 in C Major "The Coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth": II. Aria – (Variatio)
Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber; Alan Choo; Apollo's Fire; Jeannette Sorrell |
6:09 | |||
2.15
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No. 15 in C Major "The Coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth": III. Canzon
Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber; Alan Choo; Apollo's Fire; Jeannette Sorrell |
2:23 | |||
2.16
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No. 15 in C Major "The Coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth": IV. Sarabanda
Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber; Alan Choo; Apollo's Fire; Jeannette Sorrell |
2:30 | |||
2.17
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No. 16 in G Minor “The Guardian Angel”: Passacaglia
Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber; Alan Choo; Apollo's Fire; Jeannette Sorrell |
9:32 |
“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
"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.
96 kHz / 24-bit PCM – AVIE Records Studio Masters
Track title | Peak (dB FS) | RMS (dB FS) | LUFS (integrated) | DR | |
Album average Range of values | -2.28 -7.61 to -0.12 | -21.19 -26.62 to -18.25 | -17.92 -23.10 to -14.80 | 12 10 to 15 | |
1.1 | No. 1 in D Minor “The Annunciation”: I. Praeludium | -0.61 | -19.83 | -16.7 | 12 |
1.2 | No. 1 in D Minor “The Annunciation”: II. Aria (Allegro) - Variatio – Finale | -0.41 | -20.21 | -16.9 | 13 |
1.3 | No. 2 in A Major “The Visitation”: I. Sonata | -2.44 | -20.62 | -17.6 | 13 |
1.4 | No. 2 in A Major “The Visitation”: II. Allaman | -2.58 | -20.69 | -17.7 | 12 |
1.5 | No. 2 in A Major “The Visitation”: III. Presto | -2.41 | -19.95 | -16.4 | 12 |
1.6 | No. 3 in B Minor “The Nativity”: I. Sonata | -3.03 | -23.96 | -20.3 | 12 |
1.7 | No. 3 in B Minor “The Nativity”: II. Courente - Double | -2.80 | -20.78 | -17.5 | 13 |
1.8 | No. 3 in B Minor “The Nativity”: III. Adagio | -4.89 | -24.01 | -20.3 | 12 |
1.9 | No. 4 in D Minor “The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple”: Ciacona | -0.15 | -21.38 | -18.0 | 14 |
1.10 | No. 5 in A Major “The Finding of Jesus in the Temple”: I. Praeludium | -0.45 | -21.03 | -17.8 | 11 |
1.11 | No. 5 in A Major “The Finding of Jesus in the Temple”: II. Allaman | -2.08 | -19.63 | -16.7 | 12 |
1.12 | No. 5 in A Major “The Finding of Jesus in the Temple”: III. Guigue | -2.18 | -20.00 | -17.1 | 11 |
1.13 | No. 5 in A Major “The Finding of Jesus in the Temple”: IV. Saraban – Double | -2.91 | -20.64 | -17.6 | 12 |
1.14 | No. 6 in C Minor “The Agony in the Garden”: I. Lamento | -4.34 | -21.08 | -18.4 | 11 |
1.15 | No. 6 in C Minor “The Agony in the Garden”: II. (Aria) - Adagio | -2.67 | -20.89 | -17.4 | 11 |
1.16 | No. 7 in F Major “The Scourging at the Pillar": I. Allamanda - Variatio | -4.00 | -23.29 | -19.8 | 13 |
1.17 | No. 7 in F Major “The Scourging at the Pillar": II. Sarabanda - Variatio | -0.12 | -20.85 | -16.4 | 14 |
1.18 | No. 8 in B flat Major “The Crowning with Thorns”: I. Sonata: Adagio - Presto - (Adagio) | -1.97 | -20.80 | -17.7 | 12 |
1.19 | No. 8 in B flat Major “The Crowning with Thorns”: II. Guigue - Double (Presto) - Double II | -0.40 | -19.60 | -16.3 | 13 |
1.20 | No. 9 in A Minor “The Carrying of the Cross”: I. Sonata | -2.70 | -20.40 | -17.7 | 10 |
1.21 | No. 9 in A Minor “The Carrying of the Cross”: II. Courente - Double - (Double II) | -1.29 | -20.43 | -17.6 | 13 |
1.22 | No. 9 in A Minor “The Carrying of the Cross”: III. Finale | -3.04 | -20.59 | -18.1 | 11 |
1.23 | No. 10 in G Minor “The Crucifixion and Death of Jesus”: I. Praeludium | -0.12 | -18.56 | -15.1 | 12 |
1.24 | No. 10 in G Minor “The Crucifixion and Death of Jesus”: II. Aria - Variatio | -0.12 | -21.27 | -17.9 | 14 |
2.1 | No. 11 in G Major “The Resurrection”: I. Sonata | -1.44 | -19.27 | -17.1 | 11 |
2.2 | No. 11 in G Major “The Resurrection”: II. Surrexit Christus hodie | -2.22 | -19.40 | -16.8 | 11 |
2.3 | No. 11 in G Major “The Resurrection”: III. Adagio | -7.61 | -26.43 | -22.2 | 12 |
2.4 | No. 12 in C Major “The Ascension”: I. Intrada | -2.62 | -22.17 | -18.7 | 12 |
2.5 | No. 12 in C Major “The Ascension”: II. Aria Tubicinum | -0.43 | -18.25 | -14.8 | 13 |
2.6 | No. 12 in C Major “The Ascension”: III. Allamanda | -7.51 | -26.62 | -23.1 | 13 |
2.7 | No. 12 in C Major “The Ascension”: IV. Courente - Double | -4.04 | -23.06 | -20.1 | 14 |
2.8 | No. 13 in D Minor “The Descent of the Holy Spirit": I. Sonata | -0.88 | -21.75 | -18.1 | 13 |
2.9 | No. 13 in D Minor “The Descent of the Holy Spirit”: II. Gavott - Guigue | -1.82 | -20.47 | -17.5 | 12 |
2.10 | No. 13 in D Minor “The Descent of the Holy Spirit”: III. Sarabanda | -4.83 | -23.72 | -19.9 | 12 |
2.11 | No. 14 in D Major “The Assumption of Mary into Heaven”: I. (Praeludium) | -2.32 | -22.26 | -18.8 | 13 |
2.12 | No. 14 in D Major “The Assumption of Mary into Heaven”: II. Aria - Aria II - Guigue | -0.85 | -21.31 | -18.0 | 14 |
2.13 | No. 15 in C Major "The Coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth": I. Sonata | -2.79 | -19.23 | -16.4 | 11 |
2.14 | No. 15 in C Major "The Coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth": II. Aria – (Variatio) | -0.82 | -19.86 | -16.5 | 12 |
2.15 | No. 15 in C Major "The Coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth": III. Canzon | -1.13 | -19.60 | -16.4 | 11 |
2.16 | No. 15 in C Major "The Coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth": IV. Sarabanda | -4.04 | -22.54 | -19.2 | 11 |
2.17 | No. 16 in G Minor “The Guardian Angel”: Passacaglia | -0.32 | -22.17 | -18.2 | 15 |