Well, I've been away from the computer a day or two and see that in trying to edit the thread I started about Scarlatti sonatas, I managed to delete everthing. OOOPS

So to recap: What are your suggestions for quiet, lyrical, and/or minor-key Scarlatti sonatas. I can find the quick, virtuostic ones (that I like) much more easily.

I recall from the original thread suggestions of looking at L. 23 (E Major) and L. 118 (F Minor), which are ones Horowitz recorded. L. 422 (D Minor) was also mentioned.

I'm also interested in comparing notes with other Scarlatti fans as to their favorite sonatas in general. Some of my favorites that I have actually played (or mangled) include:

K. 25, L. 481, f-sharp
K. 51, L. 20, E-flat
K. 70, L. 50, B-Flat
K. 72, L. 401, C
K. 82, L. 30, F
K. 113, L. 345, A
K. 162, L. 21, E
K. 241, L. 180 , G
K. 377, L. 263 , b
K. 502, L. 3, C
K. 523, L. 490 , G
K. 525, L. 188 , F

Some of the above are quite nice in that they are not so full of trills!

Below are some web sites that help with Scarlatti research>

MIDI files of Scarlatti Sonatas:

By Longo Numbers http://www.midiworld.com/slindx.htm
By Kirkpatrick Numbers http://www.midiworld.com/skindx.htm

[ January 30, 2002: Message edited by: MacDuff ]

MacDuff,

I don't have access to all the numbers of my favorites right now, so I'll come back with more later. But, when it comes to slow and lyrical (and beautiful), I believe my favorite is L.33 (forgot the K number). Horowitz recorded it, but so have many others. If you didn't know better, you would think it was a romantic period piece. Pretty amazing, considering it was composed in, say, the 1730's. I believe there may be more than one "version" of that one to contend with. Another slower one (at least when I play it) is K.9. I really love that one. The one I play pretty well is K380(L23), which you mentioned. That is probably the most popular one (I think). Would that one (E-maj) be grouped with the fast ones or not? Just wondering.

Rick

Groves dictionary says that the tempo of L. 23, K. 380 (E major) is ÒAndante commodo.Ó My understanding is that ScarlattiÕs quick indications are not to be taken so fast and his slow indications as slow as we tend to play later literature today.

As much as I like to find works off the beaten track to play, I must admit that Scarlatti research is taking on a bit more than I care to wade through! I have the CD Sheet Music disk of PDF files of all the Scarlatti sonatas. While I find these to be treasures, I also start thinking, ÒOh, great, yet another 3/8 time jiggy ditty.Ó So, itÕs interesting to look at other peopleÕs selections of Scarlatti and their particular take on whatÕs most interesting. James FriskinÕs published selections and the recordings of Horowitz and Maria Tipo are a fascinating survey of Scarlatti works.


In Friskin vol. 1

L.104, 352, 387, 375, 487, 413, 461, 396, 486, 465, 366, 345

In Friskin vol. 2

L. 180, 263, 490, 23, 495, 433, 14, 103, 424, 384, 383, 205

Maria Tipo recorded

L. 375, 396, 286, 457, 288, 465, 387, 449, 487, 23, 474, 5

Horowitz recorded

L. 430, 483, 209, 424, 241, 188, 118, 349, 465, 21, 203, 22, 164, 187, 391, 23, 335


I once heard Vladimir Viardo play the following as an effective group in a recital

L. 415, 142, 422, 423, 495

A friend of mine did L. 8, 304, 82 as a nice group of three on her senior recital.

[ January 30, 2002: Message edited by: MacDuff ]

Have you seen the video of Argerich playing the d minor one with all of the repeated notes? Terrifies me to this day...

The f minor (can't remember the K #) is also beautiful.

There's a Toccata in D Minor, K. 141/L. 422, that I still remember Viardo playing (couldn't see of his technique much from the nose-bleed balcony section).

My favorite (for now, anyway) of the lyrical sonatas is L. suppl. 11/Kk. 415, No. 361 in Fadini/Ricordi's oddly numbered collection. Technically it's no strain, but musically it's very rich. Enjoy.

MacDuff,

My favorite slower pieces are: K430, K54, K32, K208, K213, K9 (wonderful), K87 (the best ever!), K11 (fantastic), K523, K8, K487, K481, K466, K322, and K246.

Rick

Thanks for the responses, I'll look up all your suggestions.