Duo X, C 135
Sonata I a otto, C 114
Sonata II a sei, C 115
Sonata III a sei, C 116
Duo VII, C 132
Duo VII, C 133
Duo IX, C 134
Sonata IV a cinque, C 117
Sonata V a sei, C 118
Sonata VI a cinque, C 119
Duo II, C 127
Duo IV, C 129
Duo V, C 130
Sonata VII a cinque, C 120
Sonata VIII a cinque, C 121
Sonata IX a cinque, C 122
Duo XI, C 136
Duo XII, C 137
Sonata X a cinque, C 123
Sonata XI a cinque, C 124
Duo I, C 126
Duo II, C 128
Duo VI, C 131
Sonata XII a otto, C 125

The Salzburg court conductor Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber is known today as a composer of excellent violin literature. His works are appreciated by violinists for their great artistry and virtuosity. Max Gandolf, the art-minded prince archbishop of Salzburg, also appreciated the violin virtuoso at the time and brought Biber to his court. In public, Biber was mainly active at the cathedral in Salzburg, but Baroque splendour and representation were also in demand at the nearby residence: the same festive instrumental music was heard in the liturgy as well as at courtly ceremonies and banquets. Biber's collection of twelve magnificent sonatas therefore bears the title Sonata Tam Aris, quam Aulis Servientes - "to be used both at the altars and in the banquet halls". The instrumentation of strings with two trumpets indicate festive occasions in the presence of the prince - in Salzburg it was customary for two trumpeters to blow fanfare pieces during the princely table in the Residenzhof. The twelve short trumpet duets from Biber's pen, which the Ensemble Harmonie Universelle placed between the twelve princely sonatas, are probably also related to this.

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Recorded 31 May - 4 June 2021, Kirche St. Leodegar, Niederehe (Germany). Organ: Balthasar König 1715.