Heinrich Biber - Sonata IV in C Major

performed at Staunton Music Festival August 15, 2015 Trinity Episcopal Church, Staunton, VA Kris Kwapis, trumpet Martin Davids, violin Gesa Kordes, violin Max Mandel, viola Anna Stinehoff, cello Wen Yang, violone Mark Shuldiner, organ Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber (1644-1704) was born in the small Bohemian town of Wartenberg. Biber worked at Graz and Kroměříž before he settled in Salzburg. He was one of the most important composers for the violin and wrote one of the earliest known pieces for solo violin, the monumental passacaglia from the Mystery Sonatas. During Biber's lifetime, his music was known and imitated throughout Europe. Kris Kwapis appears regularly as soloist and principal trumpet with period-instrument ensembles across North America, including Portland Baroque Orchestra, Early Music Vancouver, Indianapolis Baroque Orchestra, Tafelmusik, and Bach Collegium San Diego. A Grammy-nominated artist, Kris has recorded on Kleos, Naxos, ReZound, Musica Omnia and Dorian labels and her playing has been broadcast live on CBC, WNYC, WQED (Pittsburgh), Portland All-Classical (KQAC), Sunday Baroque and Wisconsin Public Radio. Kris is currently a faculty member at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music Historical Performance Institute and at her home in Seattle. When not immersed in music, she is active as a visual artist in the encaustic medium.