Soler, A.: Sonatas for Harpsichord, Vol. 12

Featuring

Gilbert Rowland
Padre Antonio Soler

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Compositional Technique

Many of Antonio Soler's sonatas are in single-movement form, structurally similar to those of Domenico Scarlatti, who may have been his teacher.

Composer Biography

Antonio Soler, the composer, spent much of his life as a monk at the 16th-century Spanish monastery of El Escorial.

Performer Biography

The harpsichordist on this recording is Gilbert Rowland, who also wrote the booklet notes for the album.

Instruments

The harpsichord used for this recording is a two-manual instrument built in 1998 by Andrew Wooderson, modeled after a Goermans harpsichord from Paris, 1750.

Composition History

As part of his monastic duties, Antonio Soler was expected to train the choir, provide choral music for services, and supply the Royal family with secular and instrumental music.