Discs 23-34
[Discs 23-33 to be
added]
CD34 [45:48]: Sonatas Nos. Kk: 81 in E minor*
- Grave [1:40] Allegro [3:22] Grave [1:14]
Allegro [1:34]; 88 in G minor - Grave [2:03] Andante
moderato [2:13] Allegro [1:30] Minuet [0:57];
89 in D minor* - Allegro [3:38] Grave [1:01] Allegro
[2:00]; 90 in D minor - Grave [2:46] Allegro [4:24]
without tempo designation [0:58] Allegro [0:56];
91 in G - Grave [1:22] Allegro [3:14] Grave
[1:00] Allegro [1:51] Scott Ross (harpsichord), Monica
Huggett (violin), Christopher Coin (cello), *Michael Henry (oboe),
*Marc Vallon (bassoon). Sonatas Nos Kk: 287 in D [1:37]; 288 in
D [2:10]; 328 in G [3:59] Scott Ross (organ).
This disc brings together all Scarlatti's sonatas
which are not for solo harpsichord. Kk Nos. 81 and 88-91 are multi-movement
works written out as a melodic line accompanies by a figured bass.
Although clearly not intended for keyboard alone, the instrumentation
was not specified by Scarlatti and, as for Bach's Art of Fugue,
it is up to the performers to decide on that. In all of these
works a violin and cello are added to the harpsichord and, additionally,
an oboe and bassoon for Kk Nos. 81 and 89. In the latter sonatas
the oboe is given the lion's share of the melodic line. These
choices seem to work well. I should also mention that there is
a change of harpsichord after Kk81 from the Italian style instrument
used almost exclusively since the Essercizi to a French
style double-manual made by David Ley which Ross used only for
Kk Nos. 31 and 88-91.
Kirkpatrick thinks that these works probably
predate the Essercizi although he based his ordering on
sources rather than stylistic considerations. Structurally there
is variation within these five sonatas, although four movements
are standard except for Kk89 which has three. The slow-fast-slow-fast
model occurs twice - in the first and last of them but Kk88 surprises
by ending with a minuet and Kk90 has a movement without tempo
designation which is definitely not a case of Scarlatti just omitting
to write Grave - at least not in the hands of these players
who play it as an Allegro. There is much fine playing in
these five works but the music is not particularly characteristic
of Scarlatti - they may have been influenced by Handel in particular.
Perhaps Kk90 is an exception in that respect, at least to my ears
it is the most interesting of the works.
To finish there are three single movement sonatas
for chamber organ that were probably written later. The first
two seem to be a related pair. Ross played these on the organ
of the church at Saint Guilhem-le-Désert.
Patrick C Waller
Internal Links
Introduction
Discs 1-11
Discs 12-22
Conclusions
External links
Sale of complete set:
AmazonUK
AmazonUS
Sale of single disc sampler:
AmazonUK
£8.99
Sale of Kirkpatrick’s book:
AmazonUK
AmazonUSA
John Sankey’s MIDI files:
http://www.midiworld.com/scarlatti.htm
Sonatas listed by Kk, L and P numbers:
http://www.classical.net/music/composer/works/scarlattid
Richard Lester's complete set:
http://www.the-scarlatti-experience.fsnet.co.uk/indexb.htm
Scott Ross (harpsichord)
