Biber: 8 Violin Sonatas, C. 138-145 (1681) for Violin and Piano

Category: Violin and Piano ** Composer: Biber, Heinrich Ignaz Franz von ** Title: 8 Violin Sonatas, C. 138-145 (1681) ** Publisher: Kalmus Publication ** Difficulty: A4/A5.

Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber is a name that all violinists, if not all musicians, should certainly know. It was principally his contributions to composition that familiarized violinists with higher positions, as well as multiple-stops and scordatura. These 8 Violin Sonatas were published in 1681, and among them are two that require scordatura, or alternate tunings.

This edition contains two different violin parts; one with those two sonatas written out in the alternate tuning, and one in which the part is altered to fit into the normal G-D-A-E tuning. It also contains facsimiles from the original edition, including the title page, an introduction from the composer (in Latin), and a page of music. There is a separate piano part. Published by Kalmus.

Contents:
* Sonata No. 1 In A Major, C. 138
* Sonata No. 2 In D Minor, C. 139
* Sonata No. 3 In F Major, C. 140
* Sonata No. 4 In D Major, C. 141 (altered tuning: A-E-A-D)
* Sonata No. 5 In E Minor, C. 142
* Sonata No. 6 In C Minor, C. 143 (altered tuning: A-E-A-D)
* Sonata No. 7 In G Major, C. 144
* Sonata No. 8 In A Major, C. 145

NOTE: The cover reads "Violin Sonatas, Volume 1", but in actuality, it is simply Volume 1 of a collection of 24 Sonatas - rest assured, there are actually eight sonatas in this book!