Scarlatti: Toccatas & Keyboard Works

Featuring

Marcello Di Lisa
Alessandro Scarlatti

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Performer Biography

Marcello Di Lisa, the harpsichordist on this recording, is also the founder and conductor of the period instrument orchestra Concerto de' Cavalieri.

Compositional Technique

Alessandro Scarlatti experimented with 'durezze armoniche' (harmonic harshness), as seen in pieces like the 'Un poco largo' from the Toccata in D major, which uses dissonant intervals.

Compositional Technique

Scarlatti's toccatas often feature an incessant 'perpetuum mobile' of sixteenth notes, showcasing technical bravura and an authentic Italian taste.

Interpretation

The execution of chords in Scarlatti's music varied depending on the instrument: held on the organ, but arpeggiated on the harpsichord.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Alessandro Scarlatti, a leading figure of the Neapolitan school, was not only a guardian of tradition but also a composer open to melodic charm and surprising, unconventional inventions.

Recording & Production

Several pieces on this album, including the Toccata in A minor, the Adagio in G major, and the Toccata in G minor, are premiere recordings, sourced from a manuscript collection in Portugal.

Performer Biography

Marcello Di Lisa is a specialist in Alessandro Scarlatti and has premiered modern performances of Scarlatti's operas and serenatas, including 'Erminia'.