Bach and Biber

Final VIRTUOSI SUMMER FESTIVAL concert
presented by an Ensemble of the faculty and students
of the 2024 Virtuosi Sumer Music Institute

In Program:
Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber: Battalia à 9
Johann Sebastian Bach: Motet “Jesu, Meine Freude”, BWV 227

Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber (1644-1704) was a Bohemian-Austrian composer and violinist, renowned for his innovative violin techniques and compositions. Born in Wartenberg, Bohemia (now Stráž pod Ralskem, Czech Republic), he worked in Graz and Kroměříž before settling in Salzburg. Biber’s music, especially his *Mystery Sonatas*, showcases his mastery of scordatura (alternative tunings) and polyphonic writing. He was a pioneer in violin music, pushing the instrument’s capabilities to new heights. His works include operas, sacred music, and chamber pieces. He was ennobled by Emperor Leopold I in 1690.

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) was a German composer and musician of the Baroque period, renowned for his mastery of counterpoint, harmonic organization, and motivic development. Born in Eisenach, he was part of a prolific musical family. Bach’s works include the *Brandenburg Concertos*, *The Well-Tempered Clavier*, and the *Mass in B Minor*. He served as Thomaskantor in Leipzig, where he composed music for the principal Lutheran churches. His compositions, which encompass orchestral, keyboard, and choral music, have had a profound influence on Western classical music.