A Virtuoso faceoff

Markku Mäkinen · Petri Tapio Mattson · Eero Palviainen · Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber

2010 · ABCD 311

Credits

Performers: Markku Mäkinen — OrganPetri Tapio Mattson — Baroque violinEero Palviainen — Archlute
Composers: Heinrich Ignaz Franz BiberGeorg Muffat

About this release

Virtuosos against each other
The new album A Virtuoso faceoff features the music of two important Baroque composers, Heinrich Biber (1644-1704) and Georg Muffat (1653-1704). The careers of the composers paralleled each other in the 1670s-1680s at the court of the prince-archbishop of Salzburg - both were undeniably virtuosos on their own instruments, although perhaps in slightly different ways. Muffat was one of the most cosmopolitan musical personalities in the German-speaking area of the 17th century. Biber's image of the composer was clearly more unified and German than Muffat's.
Many contemporary listeners are also attracted by the outward-oriented spontaneity of Biber's music and the way of writing that utilizes technical skill. On the other hand, there may be those who are pleased by the gentler aesthetic values and virtuosity of Muffat's music.
The album features Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber's Sonata in A major for violin and basso continuo, Sonata in C minor for violin and basso continuo and Fantasia in D major for violin in scordatura and basso continuo, as well as Georg Muffat's Toccata II for organ, Toccata VII for organ, Passacaglia in G minor for organ and Sonata in D major for violin and basso continuo.

Tracks

Sonata in A Major for Violin & Basso Continuo
1.Adagio-Presto-Adagio-Presto-Gravecomp. Heinrich Ignaz Franz BiberISRC FIABA10003175:09
2.Aria with variations 1-11comp. Heinrich Ignaz Franz BiberISRC FIABA10003186:06
Sonaatti A-duuri viululle ja basso continuolle
3.Toccata II for Organcomp. Georg Muffat (1653-1704)ISRC FIABA10003195:04
Sonata in C Minor for Violin & Basso Continuo
4.Adagiocomp. Heinrich Ignaz Franz BiberISRC FIABA10003201:22
5.Passagagli adagissimocomp. Heinrich Ignaz Franz BiberISRC FIABA10003219:31
Sonaatti c-molli viululle ja basso continuolle
6.Toccata VII for Organcomp. Georg Muffat (1653-1704)ISRC FIABA10003229:40
Fantasia in D Major for Violin in scordatura & Basso Continuo
7.(Adagio) - Prestocomp. Heinrich Ignaz Franz BiberISRC FIABA10003232:56
8.(Adagio)comp. Heinrich Ignaz Franz BiberISRC FIABA10003241:55
9.Gigue - variationcomp. Heinrich Ignaz Franz BiberISRC FIABA10003251:44
10.Minuetcomp. Heinrich Ignaz Franz BiberISRC FIABA10003260:55
Fantasia D-duuri viululle in scordatura ja basso continuolle
11.Passacaglia in G Minor for Organcomp. Georg Muffat (1653-1704)ISRC FIABA100032716:12
Sonata in D Major for Violin & Basso Continuo
12.Adagio - Allegro - Adagio - Allegro - Adagiocomp. Georg MuffatISRC FIABA100032812:17

Reviews

”Levyllä Biber näyttäytyy ”virtuoosisempana” varhaisilla viulusonaateillaan, jos termillä tarkoitetaan ulkoista taituruutta. Muffatin urkutoccatat, urkupassacaglia ja yksi viulusonaatti ovat yleisilmeeltään vakaampia. Petri Tapio Mattson on tulkitsijana melko suora, mutta hallitsee barokkikiemurat ja antaa viulunsa säihkyä monissa muunnelmissa.
Levyn muita iloja ovat täysimittaisten urkujen (Janakkalan kirkon barokkityyliset urut) käyttö viulusonaateissa ja täyteläinen monikanavaäänitys, joka…
Helsingin Sanomat · Jukka Isopuro
”The premise of this CD is a neat one – a range of works by two of the giants of the Austrian baroque, who must have known one another (or led very insular lives when they were both in Salzburg), compared and contrasted…I loved every minute of this recording, and can heartily recommend it.”
Early Music Review · Brian Clark
Moniulotteiset barokkitaiturit
”Biber kehitteli viulun teknisiä mahdollisuuksia, mutta hänen taiturillisuutensa liittyi mielikuvituksen lentoon ja musiikin ilmaisuvoimaan. Samoin Muffat hallitsi urkutekniikan mutta keskittyi teosten tasapainoisuuteen ja eri tyylien eleganttiin yhdistämiseen. Näitä musiikillisia hyveitä Petri Tapio Mattson ja Markku Mäkinen tuovat esiin poikkeuksellisen onnistuneesti.”
Kare
Rondo · Kare Eskola
”…eloisaa ja virtuoosista musiikkia, jota Petri Tapio Mattson, Markku Mäkinen ja Eero Palviainen tulkitsevat vivahteikkaasti.
Lauri
Suomen Kuvalehti · Lauri Kilpiö
In a kind of High Baroque version of the duelling guitars from
the film ‘Deliverance’, Alba have contrived to set Heinrich
Biber and Georg Muffat against each other as rivals in a virtual
virtuoso set-piece.
MusicWeb International * RECORDING OF THE MONTH * (11/2010)
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