49. Coffee Concert

49. Coffee Concert
Biber’s book of eight violin sonatas date from 1681 making them contemporaneous with Purcell. Biber was clearly an outstanding violinist not above showing off his pyrotechnical skills. His most famous work is the set of Mystery Sonatas. His style raises unpredictability to the status of high art, almost as if the music was being improvised in front of us. Rachel Podger chooses three Sonatas from the Book of Eight plus the curious Sonata Representiva that imitates the calls of birds and animals followed by a stirring Musketeer’s March. Listen and be dazzled!