Domenico Scarlatti composed 555 keyboard sonatas, likely for his patron and muse, Princess Maria Barbara of Portugal.
Composition History
Only the first 30 of Scarlatti's sonatas were published during his lifetime, initially titled 'Essercizi' (Exercises).
Composer Biography
Domenico Scarlatti, the composer, was born in Naples in 1685, the same year as Bach and Handel.
Performer Biography
Sang Woo Kang, the pianist on this album, performs internationally and directs the Atlantic Music Festival Piano Institute and Seminar.
Compositional Technique
Scarlatti's sonatas are typically in binary form, with two repeated sections, the first ending in a related key and the second returning to the home key.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Scarlatti's preface to his first 30 published works concludes with the simple message: 'Vivi felice' ('Live happily').
Historical Context
The remaining 525 sonatas were preserved thanks to Farinelli, a famous castrato and friend of the composer, who transported copies from Spain to Italy.
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D. Scarlatti: The Complete Keyboard Sonatas, Vol. 5
