Domenico Scarlatti began his compositional career
following in the footsteps of his father Alessandro
Scarlatti by writing operas, chamber cantatas, and
other vocal music, but he is most remembered for his
555 keyboard sonatas, written between approximately
1719 and 1757.
This is one of Scarlatti's most popular keyboard
sonatas and also one of his more challenging for the
performer. The composer employs colorful and quite
thorny octave passages throughout and otherwise infuses
the work ...(+)
Domenico Scarlatti began his compositional career
following in the footsteps of his father Alessandro
Scarlatti by writing operas, chamber cantatas, and
other vocal music, but he is most remembered for his
555 keyboard sonatas, written between approximately
1719 and 1757.
This is one of Scarlatti's most popular keyboard
sonatas and also one of his more challenging for the
performer. The composer employs colorful and quite
thorny octave passages throughout and otherwise infuses
the work with much virtuosic writing. Sacheverell
Sitwell, a Scarlatti devotee, grouped the sonatas
according to compositional features. Noting its almost
frenzied energy, he classed this F minor composiiton as
a tarantella. Like other popular sonatas from among the
555, such as the F major (K. 525), it is short --
generally a bit under three minutes -- and features
Spanish folk elements. The work opens with a lively,
playful theme whose energy and colorful manner are
instantly appealing. It is also quirky, especially when
its rhythmic drive is periodically interrupted by a
swirling figure that seems to trip so gracefully over
its own feet, so to speak. Interestingly, this sonata
anticipates some of Beethoven's music in the heroic,
driving chords that close the exposition. Scarlatti
transforms his thematic material in the latter half,
giving the music a mixture of muscle and delicacy, but
keeping the same busy mood and sense of lightness.
Although originally created for Keyboard, I created
this Arrangement of Sonata for keyboard in F Minor
(K.519 L.475) Transposed to Eb Minor for Wind Ensemble
(Flute, Oboe, Bb Clarinet, English Horn, French Horn,
Euphonium and Bassoon).
PARTITION