The Mystery (Rosary) Sonatas and Passacaglia for solo violin and continuo are a collection of sixteen works written by Heinrich Biber and dedicated to his employer and patron, Archbishop Maximilian Gandolph of Salzburg (Chafe, 1987; Clements, 2001; Holman, 1999). Consisting of three groups of five short works (The Joyful, Sorrowful and Glorious Mysteries) and a longer stand-alone work, the sonatas and unaccompanied passacaglia together represent the fifteen mysteries of the rosary, a Catholic meditative prayer sequence chronicling the life of Christ and the Virgin Mary (Chafe, 1987; Clements, 2001; Holman, 1999). Biber’s contribution to early violin music was pivotal, and this collection provides great insight into the compositional and performance practices of seventeenth century Austrian church music.
Origin and Context …show more content…
Holman states that it is likely the sonatas were written specifically for the purpose of catholic devotions. This is indicated through accompanying materials and seemingly explicit musical gestures that refer to events in the story. Each sonata is accompanied by an engraving depicting the relevant mystery (Figure 1), and the final passacaglia features an image of the guardian angel, who Chafe (1987) proposes symbolises a link to the spiritual world (Figure
Origin and Context …show more content…
Holman states that it is likely the sonatas were written specifically for the purpose of catholic devotions. This is indicated through accompanying materials and seemingly explicit musical gestures that refer to events in the story. Each sonata is accompanied by an engraving depicting the relevant mystery (Figure 1), and the final passacaglia features an image of the guardian angel, who Chafe (1987) proposes symbolises a link to the spiritual world (Figure