Heinrich Ignaz Biber

Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber (August 12, 1644 - May 3, 1704) was a Bohemian composer and violinist.

He was born in Wartenburg, Bohemia[?]. In 1684 he became Kapellmeister in Salzburg, where he died twenty years later.

His prolific works show a prediliction for canonic use and harmonic diapason that pre-date the later Baroque works of Johann Pachelbel and J. S. Bach. He was known as a violin virtuoso and is best known for his violin works, many of which employ scordatura[?] (unconventional tunings of the open strings). He wrote much chamber music, concerti, operas and a number of more well-known pieces such as the "Nightwatchman" Serenade and "Harmonia Artificiosa."