Christoph Ullrich records the complete preserved 555 harpsichord sonatas of Domenico Scarlatti on a modern Steinway concert grand piano.
Composition History
The 15 volumes of Scarlatti's sonatas, after being scattered, fortunately ended up in the Biblioteca Marciana in Venice in 1835.
Compositional Technique
Scarlatti's sonatas, though for keyboard, incorporate musical figures inspired by string or wind instruments, such as fanfares and rapid repetitions.
Composition History
Scarlatti's 30 Essercizi, dedicated to King Jose V of Portugal, are included among the sonatas as they do not formally differ from later works.
Compositional Technique
Scarlatti's sonatas are considered "finger music" by scholar Roberto Pagano, implying a close relationship between composition and improvisation.
Composition History
The Spanish Queen Maria Bárbara de Braganza, Scarlatti's patroness and pupil, bequeathed these sonata volumes to the castrato Farinelli, who brought them to Bologna.
Composition History
Scarlatti's one-movement sonatas were compiled during his lifetime into 15 volumes, each containing 30 sonatas (with two exceptions).
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