Biber takes a bow

THE 2004 York Early Music Festival will take its inspiration from the violinist Heinrich Biber, who died 300 years ago in 1704, and from the music of France. Festival administrative director Delma Tomlin gives Charles Hutchinson a guided tour through a festival that will stroll from the coolness of medieval plainsong in the Chapter House of York Minster to the heat of the music of Louis XIV of Versailles in the 18th century opulence of The Gallery at Harewood House.

Who is Heinrich Biber?

"Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber was born in Wartenberg, Bohemia in 1644 and died in Salzburg on May 3 1704. This Bohemian violinist and composer was the outstanding violin virtuoso of the 17th century and a fine composer. He wrote instrumental and vocal, sacred and secular music with equal aplomb, and his fame rests primarily upon his violin sonatas. He was a really extraordinary instrumentalist, who had this weird, but distinctive, way of tuning the violin."

How will the festival represent Biber's music?

"In the opening concert, in the Central Nave of York Minster on July 2, the Gabrieli Consirt And Players will present A Requiem For Biber, in which Biber's sublime Requiem in F Minor will form the centrepiece of a programme that explores the beautiful repertory of 17th century Austro-German music on the theme of death and consolation. We have the Gabrieli playing in the festival every three or four years, and last time I remember they opened up the Minster's Great West Door to process through there, which was a wonderful sight. This time we've managed to afford them because they were already booked to play at Brinkburn, a priory near Newcastle, and so they're now going to hop off here on their way up there."

A triple bill of Biber concerts will be the festival's central feature.

"The famous Rosary Sonatas of Biber demand three extraordinary players to play them, and we have booked three of the world's finest violinists, Andrew Manze, Monica Huggett and Pavlo Beznosiuk, to take part in a series of late-night candlelight concerts presented in three of York's medieval churches. Nowhere else in the world could you go to a festival offering such an extraordinary experience.

"When I put the project to them, they were all clear about which Rosary 'chunk' they wanted to do, so it was just a question of them all being available to do it, and in the right order.

Luckily they were, and so Andrew gets to play the joyful piece, Monica the sorrowful one and Pavlo the glorious one,"

Put the flesh on the bones, please.

"Andrew Manze, with harpsichordist Richard Egarr, will open the Rosary sonata cycle with The Five Joyful Mysteries on July 5 in the National Centre For Early Music; Monica Huggett, with Emilia Benjamin on viola da gamba and Joseph Crouch on cello, will continue with The Five Sorrowful Mysteries on July 8 at the national centre; and Pavlo Beznosiuk, with theorbo player Paula Chateauneuf, will complete the cycle with The Five Glorious Mysteries on July 9 in the Unitarian Chapel, St Saviourgate."

Will there be any more Biber?

"The festival will finish on July 10 in the Citadel in Gillygate, where violinist Chiara Banchini will lead Ensemble 415 in a programme of sacred and secular instrumental music from the time of Biber and his contemporaries, Fischer, Becker, Meder and Schmelzer, whose piece depicts the art of fencing."

The festival's second theme, the music of France, will draw upon international and York musicians.

"Andrew Kirkman will direct the Binchois Consort in a July 5 programme of sacred music from 15th century Burgundy in the Chapter House of York Minster; Ensemble Clment Jannequin, from France, will play in the festival for the first time on July 6 in the Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall; Monica Huggett will lead Sonnerie in a programme of Louis XIV's Versailles court music at Harewood House on July 7; and the Dufay Collective will perform Dansas: 12th and 13th Dance Songs Of The Troubadours in the Choir of York Minster on July 8. It makes it much easier for us to attract international musicians because we're such a well-known Early Musical festival and there's a great desire to play here. We started negotiating with the Ensemble Clment Jannequin last October, and they were very keen to come. We're also delighted that the Minster Minstrels, the new name for our York Early Music Ensemble for ten to 18 year olds, are taking part. They'll be presenting Chantez Et Dansez, a selection of French and French-influenced music from the Middle Ages to the Baroque, on July 10 in the national centre."

Will any other young musicians participate in the festival?

"Children from St Mary's CE Primary School at Askham Richard will join professional actors and musicians to perform Renaissance, a play with music by Paul Birch and Cathryn Dew, at the national centre in two performances on the opening day of the festival."

Are brochures and tickets

available yet?

"Yes, the brochure is out this week, and available from the National Centre For Early Music in St Margaret's Church, Walmgate, York, and tickets can be booked on 01904 658338."

York Early Music Festival, July 2 to 10. Box office: 01904 658338

Updated: 09:01 Friday, April 09, 2004