Carl Heinrich Biber

Who was Carl Heinrich Biber?

Carl Heinrich Biber was a late Baroque violinist and composer.

He was born in Salzburg, the sixth son of Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber. He got his first musical education from him. In 1704, he made a study trip to Venice and Rome, important centers of music. After his return, he was employed as a violinist and valet and from 1714, he was appointed Vicekapellmeister at the Salzburg court. In 1743, he succeeded Hofkapellmeister Matthias Sigismund Biechteler and he was also supervisor of Leopold Mozart. He died in his native city of Salzburg, aged 68.

He belongs to the generation of composers who represented stylistic transition between composers committed to the older, late Baroque style ideal and rococo composers. His work consists mainly of masses and other liturgical works that also include instrumental church sonatas. The latter are mostly string sonatas with organ accompaniment, seldom brass and woodwind instruments. However, the quality of Carl Heinrich's works does not reach the quality of his father's works.