Benefitting From The Period

The music of Biber has now finally begun to take a rightful place in the hierarchy of baroque music progression. The catalyst for this is in the period instrument music because more than some others of his contemporaries, Biber's music only really makes sense played on a baroque violin. This is mainly because of his methods of tuning and the technique of scordatura. The cd for consideration here is by the performing group Sonnerie lead by violinist Monica Huggett. The works played here are four sonatas for violin, viola da gamba, harpsichord and theorbo, a Passacaglia for solo violin and a setting of Nisi Dominus sung by the bass Thomas Guthrie. This is music of great character, especially the Passacaglia. Competition among recent recordings is quite fierce but Monica Huggett acquits herself very well. I do have a further cd of the Rosary Sonatas which I'll consider when it is next off the shelf and the playing on that does manage to surpass her but hey, it isn't an Olympic sport.