Biber - Harmonia artificiosa-ariosa - The Purcell Quartet

Biber - Harmonia artificiosa-ariosa - The Purcell Quartet
Baroque | Eac, flac, cue | log, cover | 2 CD, 421 MB
September 20, 1994 | Chandos | RapidShare

The Purcell Quartet has become recognized as one of the leading chamber groups in the realm of Baroque music performance. As its name suggests, the group has devoted much effort to championing the chamber works of Henry Purcell, playing and recording whole chunks of his output: the complete three- and four-part sonatas and complete pavans. But the group's vast repertory also includes works by J.S. Bach, Corelli, Handel, Vivaldi, Schütz, and many other Baroque composers. In addition -- and what makes the Purcell players unique -- they have staged operas, such as Monteverdi's L'Incoronazione di Poppea and have presented large choral works in concert by Bach, including cantatas and masses. They have also made over 40 recordings, mostly for the Chandos label.

The Purcell Quartet was founded in London in 1983, but did not give its debut concert until February 14, the following year, at London's St. John's, Smith Square. The group's members then were Robert Woolley (keyboard), Catherine Mackintosh (violin), Elizabeth Wallfisch (second violin), and Richard Boothby (cello; viola da gamba). Only one change in personnel has taken place over the years: violinist Catherine Weiss replaced Wallfisch.

The group had immediate success following its triumphant 1984 debut concert, and within three years turned out six recordings for the Hyperion label, each devoted to a different Baroque composer: Vivaldi, Corelli, Alessandro Scarlatti, C.P.E. Bach, Geminiani, and Marais. In 1987 the ensemble began recording for Chandos Records and has produced more than 40 CD titles for that British label.

By the early '90s, the Purcell Quartet was in great demand, both at home and abroad. Numerous concert tours took the quartet not only throughout the U.K., but across Europe, the U.S., South America, and parts of the Middle East. In 1998 the group traveled to Japan to stage performances of Monteverdi's L'Incoronazione di Poppea. Three years later it returned for another important tour, this one featuring a highly successful staging of Monteverdi's L'Orfeo starring Mark Padmore. Other leading vocalists have typically appeared at the Purcell Quartet's opera and concert productions over the years, including Emma Kirkby, Nancy Argenta, Michael Chance, and Peter Harvey.

The Purcell Quartet marked its 20th anniversary in an acclaimed February 2004 concert at Wigmore Hall. The ensemble has remained very active in the recording studio, and among its recordings is the 2006 Chandos CD of Couperin's Les Nations, Vol. 2.

Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber (12 August 1644 – 3 May 1704)

Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber (12 August 1644 – 3 May 1704) was a Bohemian-Austrian composer and violinist. Born in the small Bohemian town of Wartenberg, Biber worked at Graz and Kroměříž before he illegally left his Kroměříž employer and settled in Salzburg. He remained there for the rest of his life, publishing much of his music but apparently seldom, if ever, giving concert tours.

Biber was one of the most important composers for the violin in the history of the instrument. His technique allowed him to easily reach the 6th and 7th positions, employ multiple stops in intricate polyphonic passages, and explore the various possibilities of scordatura tuning. He also wrote one of the earliest known pieces for solo violin, the monumental passacaglia of the Mystery Sonatas. During Biber's lifetime, his music was known and imitated throughout Europe. In late 18th century he was named the best violin composer of the 17th century by music historian Charles Burney. In late 20th century Biber's music, especially the Mystery Sonatas, enjoyed a renaissance. Today, it is widely performed and recorded.


CD 1 Tracks:
01 - Purcell Quartet with Elizabeth Wallfisch - Partita I in D minor - I. Adagio - Presto - Adagio (03:00)
02 - Purcell Quartet with Elizabeth Wallfisch - Partita I in D minor - Ii. Allamande (02:00)
03 - Purcell Quartet with Elizabeth Wallfisch - Partita I in D minor - Iii. Gigue (04:32)
04 - Purcell Quartet with Elizabeth Wallfisch - Partita I in D minor - Iv. Aria (02:10)
05 - Purcell Quartet with Elizabeth Wallfisch - Partita I in D minor - V. Sarabande - (03:11)
06 - Purcell Quartet with Elizabeth Wallfisch - Partita I in D minor - Vi. Finale. Presto (00:42)
07 - Purcell Quartet with Elizabeth Wallfisch - Partita II in B minor - I. Praeludium (02:09)
08 - Purcell Quartet with Elizabeth Wallfisch - Partita II in B minor - Ii. Allamande - (02:58)
09 - Purcell Quartet with Elizabeth Wallfisch - Partita II in B minor - Iii. Balletto. Allegro (01:03)
10 - Purcell Quartet with Elizabeth Wallfisch - Partita II in B minor - Iv. Aria. Presto (00:46)
11 - Purcell Quartet with Elizabeth Wallfisch - Partita II in B minor - V. Gigue. Presto (01:43)
12 - Purcell Quartet with Elizabeth Wallfisch - Partita III in A major - I. Praeludium. Allegro (01:32)
13 - Purcell Quartet with Elizabeth Wallfisch - Partita III in A major - Ii. Allamande (01:51)
14 - Purcell Quartet with Elizabeth Wallfisch - Partita III in A major - Iii. Amener. Presto (01:05)
15 - Purcell Quartet with Elizabeth Wallfisch - Partita III in A major - Iv. Balletto (00:55)
16 - Purcell Quartet with Elizabeth Wallfisch - Partita III in A major - V. Gigue (00:40)
17 - Purcell Quartet with Elizabeth Wallfisch - Partita III in A major - Vi. Ciacona. Canon In Unisono (04:14)
18 - Purcell Quartet with Elizabeth Wallfisch - Partita IV in E flat major - I. Adagio - Allegro - Adagio (02:40)
19 - Purcell Quartet with Elizabeth Wallfisch - Partita IV in E flat major - Ii. Allamande (01:32)
20 - Purcell Quartet with Elizabeth Wallfisch - Partita IV in E flat major - Iii. Trezza. Presto (00:53)
21 - Purcell Quartet with Elizabeth Wallfisch - Partita IV in E flat major - Iv. Aria (01:17)
22 - Purcell Quartet with Elizabeth Wallfisch - Partita IV in E flat major - V. Canaria (00:36)
23 - Purcell Quartet with Elizabeth Wallfisch - Partita IV in E flat major - Vi. Gigue. Presto (01:18)
24 - Purcell Quartet with Elizabeth Wallfisch - Partita IV in E flat major - Vii. Polcinello. Presto (00:22)


CD 2 Tracks:
01 - Purcell Quartet with Elizabeth Wallfisch - Partita V in G minor - I. Intrada. Alla Breve (01:32)
02 - Purcell Quartet with Elizabeth Wallfisch - IPartita V in G minor - i. Aria. Adagio (01:31)
03 - Purcell Quartet with Elizabeth Wallfisch - Partita V in G minor - Iii. Balletto. Presto (00:34)
04 - Purcell Quartet with Elizabeth Wallfisch - Partita V in G minor - Iv. Gigue (00:58)
05 - Purcell Quartet with Elizabeth Wallfisch - Partita V in G minor - V. Passacaglia (05:32)
06 - Purcell Quartet with Elizabeth Wallfisch - Partita VI in D major - I. Praeludium. Adagio - Allegro (02:54)
07 - Purcell Quartet with Elizabeth Wallfisch - Partita VI in D major - Ii. Aria Con Variatio (13:28)
08 - Purcell Quartet with Elizabeth Wallfisch - Partita VI in D major - Iii. Finale. Adagio - Allegro (01:23)
09 - Purcell Quartet with Elizabeth Wallfisch - Partita VII in C minor - I. Praeludium. Grave - Presto (03:03)
10 - Purcell Quartet with Elizabeth Wallfisch - Partita VII in C minor - Ii. Allamande (01:50)
11 - Purcell Quartet with Elizabeth Wallfisch - Partita VII in C minor - Iii. Sarabande (01:55)
12 - Purcell Quartet with Elizabeth Wallfisch - Partita VII in C minor - Iv. Gigue. Presto (02:22)
13 - Purcell Quartet with Elizabeth Wallfisch - Partita VII in C minor - V. Aria (01:56)
14 - Purcell Quartet with Elizabeth Wallfisch - Partita VII in C minor - Vi. Trezza (00:46)
15 - Purcell Quartet with Elizabeth Wallfisch - Partita VII in C minor - Vii. Arietta (07:19)