Keyboard sonatas
Not a single note of Scarlatti’s sonatas has come down to us in the composer’s hand, and none of them have dance or tempo titles, so many of the best remain perversely well-kept secrets. All we have is catalogue numbers – 555 according to Kirkpatrick.
K27 is far more typical of the composer’s approach to the sonata as a baroque dance of distinctly Iberian character in two repeated halves. The hand-crossing is impressive, too – evidence of Scarlatti the gambler at the keyboard.
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Irena Koblar performing K450, characterised by Scott Ross as a “Spanish tango”
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For Spanish atmosphere, and sometimes striking dissonance, try K18, K119, K126, K175, K414 (after a conventional first half), K420 and K466.
K.18 in D minor
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K.119 in D major
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K.126 in C minor
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K.466 in F minor
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To see how the pairing of sonatas can work, try the two in the unusual key of F sharp major, K318 and 319.
K.318 in F sharp major
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K.319 in F sharp major
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For a remarkable and very Spanish triptych, try K490, K491 and K492. For what may be a backward glance to the mandolins of Naples, try K298; for what could be a mandolin and guitar in the most frenzied of dances, K141.
K.141
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K. 208 in A major
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K.544 in B flat major
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K.555 in F minor
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Sonatas with string instruments
K.77 in D minor, for Violin and Harpsichord
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K.81 in E minor, for Violin and bass continuo
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K.88 in D minor, for Viola d’Amore and Harpsichord
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K.89 in D minor for Mandolin and bass continuo
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K.90 in D minor, for Viola d’Amore, Fortepiano and Bass continuo
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K.90 in D minor, for Viola d’Amore and Harpsichord
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K.91 in G major, for Viola d’Amore and Harpsichord
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Domenico Scarlatti 