Rosary Sonatas

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Rosary Sonatas
Violin sonatas by H. I. F. Biber
Violin with strings prepared for Sonata No. 11
Other name	Mystery Sonatas Copper-Engraving Sonatas
Composed	around 1676
Published	1905
Movements	1–5 Joyful Mysteries 6–10 Sorrowful Mysteries 11–15 Glorious Mysteries 16 Passacaglia
Scoring	Violin continuo

The Rosary Sonatas (Rosenkranzsonaten, also known as the Mystery Sonatas or Copper-Engraving Sonatas) by Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber are a collection of 15 short sonatas for violin and continuo, with a final passacaglia for solo violin. Instead of a title, each sonatas has a copper-engraved vignette related to the Christian Rosary practice, and possibly to the Feast of the Guardian Angels.

It is presumed that the Mystery Sonatas were completed around 1676, but they were unknown until their publication in 1905. While Biber lost much popularity after his death, his music was never entirely forgotten due to the high technical skill required to play many of his works; this is especially true of his violin works. Once rediscovered, the Mystery Sonatas became one of Biber's most widely known composition. The work is prized for its virtuosic vocal style, scordatura tunings, and its programmatic structure.