The Bohemian virtuoso violinist and composer Heinrich Biber spent the last 24 years of his life at the court of the Archbishop of Salzburg, after earlier service with the Prince-Bishop of Olmutz.

Instrumental Music

Among a number of interesting compositions are Biber's fifteen Rosary Sonatas, for violin and basso continuo, with its unaccompanied violin Passacaglia, and the curious string orchestra Battalia (Battle), with its imitation gunfire and drunken soldiers. In the first he makes considerable use of scordatura, with the violin retuned to provide different sonorities and unusual chordal effects.

BACH / HANDEL / ROSENMULLER: Masters of the German Baroque	BACH, J.S.: Cantatas Nos. 10 and 47 / LYRICHORD BAROQUE SAMPLER	BACH, J.S.: Violin Sonata No. 1 / Partita No. 2 / PISENDEL: Violin Sonata
BAROQUE MUSIC IN SALZBURG	BIBER, H.: Chamber Music (Ensemble Pian and Forte)	BIBER, H.: Rosary Sonatas (Beznosiuk)
BIBER, H.I.F.: Nachtwachterlied / Balletti a 6 / Battalia "Sonata di marche" (Soldiers, Gypsies, Farmers and a Night Watchman) (Combattimento Consort)	BIBER, I.: Mensa sonora (La Follia Salzburg)	BIBER: Balletti and Sonatas for Trumpets and and Strings
BIBER: Battalia / MERULA: La Cattarina / HOLBORNE: The Funerals	BIBER: Chamber Music	BIBER: Fidicinium sacro-profanum / Nisi Dominus / Battalia / Laetatus Sum / Balletti lamentabili
BIBER: Harmonia artificiosa-ariosa	BIBER: Mensa Sonora / Violin Sonata in A major	BIBER: Mystery (Rosary) Sonatas for Violin and Continuo
BIBER: Mystery (Rosary) Sonatas for Violin and Continuo	BIBER: Sonatas Appropriate to the Altar or the Court (Sonatae tam aris quam aulis servientes)	Chamber Music: London Baroque - ROSENMULLER, J. / HACQUART, C. / BUXTEHUDE, D. / BIBER, H. I. F. (The Trio Sonata in 17th Century Germany)