Domenico Scarlatti (1685-1757)

[71 dB]

Maybe.  In all events, I should never, ever write any composer off based on the only disc I've listened to having been on the Naxos label. Puh-leeze.

Of course, D. Scarlatti may just not be your thing.  Keep in mind: your not liking a composer, doesn't call that composer's reputation into question. It just means, maybe you don't like the music.

I didn't say I don't like D. Scarlatti. I said I haven't been impressed as much as his reputation makes me expect. I haven't wrote him off. I just haven't included him on my top 30 composers.  

[karlhenning]

I didn't say I don't like D. Scarlatti. I said I haven't been impressed as much as his reputation makes me expect. I haven't wrote him off. I just haven't included him on my top 30 composers.  

Well, excluding him from a top 30 that includes Dittersdorf . . . .

[Josquin des Prez]

Well, excluding him from a top 30 that includes Dittersdorf . . . .

[71 dB]

Well, excluding him from a top 30 that includes Dittersdorf . . . .

Dittersdorf has impressed me more than D. Scarlatti. Having said that, Dittersdorf too has hard time entering my top 30.

[Holden]

I have only one CD of D. Scarlatti's sonatas: Volume one on Naxos played by Eteri Andjaparidze. While it's a nice disc highlight being track 12 (sonata in E minor, K.402/L.427/P496) I don't complete get Scarlatti's reputation. Perhaps the performances on that CD just suck? I have been more impressed by the (vocal) compositions of Alessandro Scarlatti. Go figure.

As I said in my post, it is easy to play Scarlatti in a way that makes him sound like just another baroque keyboard composer. Now if you really want to hear Scarlatti played well start with this CD



....easily acquired from Amazon even though it is OOP. There are other incarnations of these performances on CD that are still in print by Horowitz. Then if you like those then seek out Sudbin, Zacharias on EMI and most of all, Babayan on Pro Piano.

[Josquin des Prez]

Dittersdorf has impressed me more than D. Scarlatti. Having said that, Dittersdorf too has hard time entering my top 30.

Scarlatti was a genius. I suggest you start giving his music greater attention, 'cause i'm never wrong about those things.

[Bulldog]

I have only one CD of D. Scarlatti's sonatas: Volume one on Naxos played by Eteri Andjaparidze. While it's a nice disc highlight being track 12 (sonata in E minor, K.402/L.427/P496) I don't complete get Scarlatti's reputation. Perhaps the performances on that CD just suck?

They don't suck at all.  Eteri plays excellently with a crispness not often found on other Scarlatti discs played on piano; her emotional investment is also impressive.  Maybe you need Scarlatti on harpsichord to "get it".

[SonicMan46]

I have only one CD of D. Scarlatti's sonatas: Volume one on Naxos played by Eteri Andjaparidze. While it's a nice disc highlight being track 12 (sonata in E minor, K.402/L.427/P496) I don't complete get Scarlatti's reputation. Perhaps the performances on that CD just suck? I have been more impressed by the (vocal) compositions of Alessandro Scarlatti. Go figure.

Poju - I've spent years collecting Scarlatti's Sonatas, dumping many and adding others - don't believe that he's an easy composer to appreciate for many.  Of course, the first choice is whether you want to explore and enjoy/dislike his 555 or so keyboard pieces; the second choice, is whether you want to explore these works on the piano or harpsichord; and finally, regardless of the type of keyboard preferred, what 'personal' interpretations you may enjoy - can be just too much to make a choice - 

Currently, I've decided to have both piano & harpsichord CDs - on piano, I own Pletnev & Sudbin, the latter in a one disc selection - recommended if you want to hear a good 'piano version'; on harpsichord, I have the three volumes of Hantai on Mirare - these are quite good and recommended highly - if you do like either of these performances, then maybe Scarlatti is not for you?  Dave 

 

[71 dB]

Holden & SonicMan: thanks for the recommendations!  0:)

Scarlatti was a genius. I suggest you start giving his music greater attention, 'cause i'm never wrong about those things.

I don't promise anything.

They don't suck at all.  Eteri plays excellently with a crispness not often found on other Scarlatti discs played on piano; her emotional investment is also impressive.  Maybe you need Scarlatti on harpsichord to "get it".

I agree about Eteri's performance. I think it's good. Scarlatti's music just isn't as deep as I expected. It's "playful."

[Que]

Scarlatti's music just isn't as deep as I expected. It's "playful."

Playful is good.

Q

[karlhenning]

Surgically done, Que!

[Coopmv]

I have this pretty decent recording by Pogo ...

[Ten thumbs]

I think a complete 2 hour recital of Scarlatti might be a bit tough to take for an audience. This has nothing to do with the quality of compositions (which I strongly admire) but the nature of the pieces themselves. They are all relatively short, follow the same ABA structure and are constrained by the limited dynamic range of the keyboards of the time. This sameness of structure and keyboard range could become wearying for many audience members. It would be like going to a concert in which the only works cast were the Chopin Mazurkas - all excellent compositions but again the structure and rhythmic sameness would certainly get to some after a while.

Just my thoughts on one of my favourite composers.

Whilst agreeing in general a concert could easily be constructed by arranging a selection of sonatas so as to provide variety. For instance they cover a wide range of keys, some are very quick, others slower and there is plenty of rhythmic variation (much more so than in Chopin's mazurkas).
Incidentally these sonatas are hardly ever in ABA format (is any of them?). The usual form is A+B repeated: development+B repeated.

[Josquin des Prez]

I think it's good. Scarlatti's music just isn't as deep as I expected. It's "playful."

Well, i've read several accounts from those who met Scarlatti and he was described as an exceedingly grave and withdrawn man. His works are very extroverted but if you probe deep enough there's nothing jovial about them. It's a sort of serious playfulness which plunges towards esoteric grounds in his later works. The differences is very subtle but its there.

[71 dB]

Well, i've read several accounts from those who met Scarlatti...

People who read too much doesn't have time to think enough and are in danger to be brainwashed.

[The new erato]

People who read too much doesn't have time to think enough and are in danger to be brainwashed.

A real Poju-ism that! Congratulations; you are back on track.

An alternate take of course is that they are in danger of knowing what they are talking about.

[Josquin des Prez]

People who read too much doesn't have time to think enough and are in danger to be brainwashed.

I may be wrong, but i don't think Schopenhauer had written facts in mind when he warned on the dangers of reading too much without ever forming your own observations and opinions on things.

[jochanaan]

I have only one CD of D. Scarlatti's sonatas...

I think you were the first to include even the initial and thus acknowledge that there is more than one Scarlatti! Domenico's father Alessandro Scarlatti was also a major composer, although I'm only familiar with some of his lovely wind concertos.

BTW, in style Domenico is as closely related to early Classical-period music as to Baroque music.

[The new erato]

BTW, in style Domenico is as closely related to early Classical-period music as to Baroque music.

Well, in some ways he is, but all that wonderful, wacky inventiveness could only come out of the baroque.

[jochanaan]

Well, in some ways he is, but all that wonderful, wacky inventiveness could only come out of the baroque.

Oh really?  And when was the last time you listened to Haydn's Surprise Symphony? Or any number of other Haydn compositions, BTW; he was a master at confounding expectations.