Sammartini: Harpsichord Sonatas

Featuring

Simonetta Heger
Giovanni Battista Sammartini

Did you know?

1/7

Composer's Artistic Vision

Sammartini is mainly known today for his significant contribution to the development of the modern symphony, which was later adopted by Austro-German composers.

Compositional Technique

Sammartini's keyboard sonatas show a shift away from Baroque counterpoint, focusing instead on two distinct, interchangeable melodic and bass lines.

Performer Biography

Simonetta Heger, the harpsichordist on this album, is a professor at the Conservatory of Milan and has performed internationally as both a pianist and harpsichordist.

Compositional Technique

Sammartini's most original trait is his approach to rhythm, with juxtapositions of binary and ternary sections and constantly varied patterns.

Compositional Technique

Sammartini's keyboard sonatas often feature galant-style patterns, such as repeated bass notes and Alberti bass, supporting mellow and expressive melodies.

Composer Biography

Giovanni Battista Sammartini, born into a family of musicians, was the most active and prolific musician in Milan for three-quarters of the 18th century.

Composer Biography

Sammartini was highly regarded by his contemporaries, with Leopold Mozart calling him 'the city's best and most esteemed musician,' and Gluck being his pupil.