Biber - Helene Schmitt - Honori XV Sacronem Mysterionem. The Rosary Sonatas (2016) {2CD Aeolus Official Digital Downloads}

The violinist, Helene Schmitt, manifests herself completely in this new recording for the German label AEOLUS. A genuine accomplishment for the musician. The Rosary Sonatas not only deal with mysteries, they are a mystery themselves. With this violin cycle made up of fifteen sonatas and a solo passacaglia, Biber created one of the most astonishing works of the entire violin repertoire. Famous and even today not completely decrypted in terms of its significance is the assignment of the sonatas to the sacred Christian mysteries.

In this work, the composer carries to the extreme the scordatura technique, the tuning of the violin’s four strings to intervals other than those usual, and in this manner demands constant concentration from the performer.
When you buy the SuperAudio 2 CD set on the Aeolus Label, you get a very beautiful object, enriched by a 55 page booklet in English, French and German. In it, the great musicologist, Peter Wollny, sets down the interpretation of Biber's masterpiece in a scholarly manner which will always be regarded as definitive. From her perspective Hélène Schmitt writes her own talented commentary.

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Personnel:
Hélène Schmitt (Violin)
François Guerrier (Claviorgan)
Massimo Moscardo (Archlute)
Francisco Mañalich (Bass viol)
Jan Krigovsky (Violone)

tracklist:
CD1
01 - [THE 5 JOYFUL MYSTERIES] Sonata I. The Annunciation (Die Verkundigung) - Praeludium -
02 - Sonata I. The Annunciation (Die Verkundigung) - Variatio, Aria allegro
03 - Sonata I. The Annunciation (Die Verkundigung) - Adagio
04 - Sonata I. The Annunciation (Die Verkundigung) - [Variatio]
05 - Sonata I. The Annunciation (Die Verkundigung) - Finale
06 - Sonata II. The Visitation (Maria besuch bei Elisabeth) - Sonata
07 - Sonata II. The Visitation (Maria besuch bei Elisabeth) - Presto
08 - Sonata II. The Visitation (Maria besuch bei Elisabeth) - Allemande
09 - Sonata II. The Visitation (Maria besuch bei Elisabeth) - Presto
10 - Sonata III. The Nativity (Christi Geburt) - Sonata - Presto - Adagio -
11 - Sonata III. The Nativity (Christi Geburt) - Courente
12 - Sonata III. The Nativity (Christi Geburt) - Double
13 - Sonata III. The Nativity (Christi Geburt) - Adagio
14 - Sonata IV. The Presentation of Jesus at the Temple (Christi Darstellung im Tempel) - Ciacona
15 - Sonata V. The Finding of Jesus in the Temple (Der zwolfjahrige Jesus im Tempel) - Praeludium - Presto -
16 - Sonata V. The Finding of Jesus in the Temple (Der zwolfjahrige Jesus im Tempel) - Allamande
17 - Sonata V. The Finding of Jesus in the Temple (Der zwolfjahrige Jesus im Tempel) - Guigue
18 - Sonata V. The Finding of Jesus in the Temple (Der zwolfjahrige Jesus im Tempel) - Sarabande
19 - Sonata V. The Finding of Jesus in the Temple (Der zwolfjahrige Jesus im Tempel) - Double
20 - [THE 5 SORROWFUL MYSTERIES] Sonata VI. (Christi Leiden am Olberg) - Lamento - Adagio - Presto - Adagio -
21 - Sonata VI. The Agony in the Garden of Gethsemane (Christi Leiden am Olberg) - [Sarabande] -
22 - Sonata VI. The Agony in the Garden of Gethsemane (Christi Leiden am Olberg) - [Recitativo] - Adagio -
23 - Sonata VI. The Agony in the Garden of Gethsemane (Christi Leiden am Olberg) - Adagio
24 - Sonata VI. The Agony in the Garden of Gethsemane (Christi Leiden am Olberg) - [Marche]
25 - Sonata VII. The Scourging of Jesus (Die Geisselung) - Allemanda
26 - Sonata VII. The Scourging of Jesus (Die Geisselung) - Variatio
27 - Sonata VII. The Scourging of Jesus (Die Geisselung) - Sarabande
28 - Sonata VII. The Scourging of Jesus (Die Geisselung) - Variatio
29 - Sonata VII. The Scourging of Jesus (Die Geisselung) - [Variatio 2]
30 - Sonata VII. The Scourging of Jesus (Die Geisselung) - [Variatio 3]
31 - Sonata VIII. The Crowing of Jesus with Thorns (Die Dornenkronung) - Sonata Adagio - Presto -
32 - Sonata VIII. The Crowing of Jesus with Thorns (Die Dornenkronung) - Guigue
33 - Sonata VIII. The Crowing of Jesus with Thorns (Die Dornenkronung) - Double Presto
34 - Sonata VIII. The Crowing of Jesus with Thorns (Die Dornenkronung) - Double 2

CD2
01 - Sonata IX. Jesus carrying the Cross (Die Kreuztragung) - Sonata
02 - Sonata IX. Jesus carrying the Cross (Die Kreuztragung) - Courente
03 - Sonata IX. Jesus carrying the Cross (Die Kreuztragung) - Double
04 - Sonata IX. Jesus carrying the Cross (Die Kreuztragung) - [Double 2]
05 - Sonata IX. Jesus carrying the Cross (Die Kreuztragung) - Finale
06 - Sonata X. The Crucifixion (Die Kreuzigung) - Praeludium
07 - Sonata X. The Crucifixion (Die Kreuzigung) - Aria
08 - Sonata X. The Crucifixion (Die Kreuzigung) - Variatio
09 - Sonata X. The Crucifixion (Die Kreuzigung) - [Variatio 2]
10 - Sonata X. The Crucifixion (Die Kreuzigung) - Adagio
11 - Sonata X. The Crucifixion (Die Kreuzigung) - [Variatio 4]
12 - Sonata X. The Crucifixion (Die Kreuzigung) - [Variatio 5]
13 - [THE 5 GLORIOUS MYSTERIES] Sonata XI. The Resurrection (Die Auferstehung) - Sonata
14 - Sonata XI. The Resurrection (Die Auferstehung) - Surrexit Christus hodie
15 - Sonata XI. The Resurrection (Die Auferstehung) - Adagio
16 - Sonata XII. The Ascension (Christi Himmelfahrt) - Intrada
17 - Sonata XII. The Ascension (Christi Himmelfahrt) - Aria Tubicinum
18 - Sonata XII. The Ascension (Christi Himmelfahrt) - Allemanda
19 - Sonata XII. The Ascension (Christi Himmelfahrt) - Courante
20 - Sonata XII. The Ascension (Christi Himmelfahrt) - Double
21 - Sonata XIII. The Descent of the Holy Ghost at Pentecost (Die Ausgiessung des Heiligen Geistes) - Sonata
22 - Sonata XIII. The Descent of the Holy Ghost at Pentecost (Die Ausgiessung des Heiligen Geistes) - Gavott
23 - Sonata XIII. The Descent of the Holy Ghost at Pentecost (Die Ausgiessung des Heiligen Geistes) - Gigue
24 - Sonata XIII. The Descent of the Holy Ghost at Pentecost (Die Ausgiessung des Heiligen Geistes) - Sarabanda
25 - Sonata XIV. The Assumption of our Lady (Maria Himmelfahrt) - [Praeludium] - Grave - Adagio
26 - Sonata XIV. The Assumption of our Lady (Maria Himmelfahrt) - Aria - Aria
27 - Sonata XIV. The Assumption of our Lady (Maria Himmelfahrt) - Gigue
28 - Sonata XV. The Crowning of the Blessed Virgin (Die Kronung der Jungfrau Maria) - Sonata
29 - Sonata XV. The Crowning of the Blessed Virgin (Die Kronung der Jungfrau Maria) - Aria
30 - Sonata XV. The Crowning of the Blessed Virgin (Die Kronung der Jungfrau Maria) - [Variatio 1]
31 - Sonata XV. The Crowning of the Blessed Virgin (Die Kronung der Jungfrau Maria) - [Variatio 2]
32 - Sonata XV. The Crowning of the Blessed Virgin (Die Kronung der Jungfrau Maria) - [Variatio 3]
33 - Sonata XV. The Crowning of the Blessed Virgin (Die Kronung der Jungfrau Maria) - Canzon
34 - Sonata XV. The Crowning of the Blessed Virgin (Die Kronung der Jungfrau Maria) - Sarabanda
35 - Sonata XV. The Crowning of the Blessed Virgin (Die Kronung der Jungfrau Maria) - [Variatio]
36 - Passacaglia