Domenico Scarlatti (1685-1757) lived the first half of his life in Naples, Italy and moved to the Iberian Peninsula in 1720, where he remained until his death. His first appointment was at the Royal court in Lisbon, Portugal. A decade later he moved to Madrid and took a position at the Royal Spanish court and it was here that the majority of his 550 harpsichord sonatas were written and where his artistic personality began to flourish. Using his imagination, he tested the limits and possibilities of the harpsichord resulting in compositions that surpassed his contemporaries in their originality and experimentation. His expansion of keyboard technique and virtuosity have more in common with keyboard music written a century after his death. Chronologically, he is classified as a Baroque composer, although his music was influential in the development of the Classical style.

Scarlatti's encounter with the Spanish culture had a profound effect on his compositions. The influence of folk music, the use of modes and other tonal inflections were more or less alien to European art music of the era. Many of his chord patterns and dissonances are suggestive of the guitar. The eminent harpsichordist and musicologist Ralph Kirkpatrick said, "As far as we know, Scarlatti never played the guitar, but surely no composer ever fell more deeply under its spell."

1. Sonata K435 in D Major allegro (Domenico Scarlatti)
2. Sonata K328 in G Major andante comodo (Domenico Scarlatti)
3. Sonata K32 in A Minor (orig D Minor) aria (Domenico Scarlatti)
4. Sonata K115 in D Minor (orig C Minor) allegro (Domenico Scarlatti)
5. Sonata K481 in A Minor (orig F Minor) andante cantabile (Domenico Scarlatti)
6. Sonata K159 in G Major (orig C Major) allegro (Domenico Scarlatti)
7. Sonata K234 in G Minor andante (Domenico Scarlatti)
8. Sonata K33 in D Major allegro (Domenico Scarlatti)
9. Sonata K27 in E Minor (orig B Minor) allegro (Domenico Scarlatti)
10. Sonata K466 in A Minor (orig F Minor) andante (Domenico Scarlatti)
11. Sonata K214 in D Major allegro vivo (Domenico Scarlatti)
12. Sonata K9 in D Minor (pastorale) allegro (Domenico Scarlatti)
13. Sonata K54 in A Minor allegro (Domenico Scarlatti)

Listen to: the entire album.

Release date: 5/3/2011
Daniel Estrem lives in Minnesota USA

Tagged as: Classical, Baroque, Classical Period, Instrumental, Composer: Domenico Scarlatti, Classical Guitar, Ukulele

1. The Melodious Birde - Keyboard Music By William Byrd by Colin Booth: solo harpsichord music
2. SL Weiss on 11 Strings by Paul Berget: renaissance lute, modernized.
3. Debut by AlmaNova: lively flute/guitar duo
4. Elizabeth's Lutes by Alex McCartney: Reflective, historically-informed performance on the lute
5. Dances and Suites of Rameau and Couperin by American Baroque: Spectacular Baroque and Classical chamber music
6. Arpeggi by Federico Moscogiuri: Original and evocative lute music
7. Mozart 4 Quartets for Strings and Winds by American Baroque: Spectacular Baroque and Classical chamber music
8. The Four Seasons by Vivaldi by American Baroque: Spectacular Baroque and Classical chamber music
9. Conversations Galantes by Ensemble Mirable: rare and extraordinary music of the Baroque
10. Classic Giuliani by AlmaNova: lively flute/guitar duo
11. Old School Old Time by Fiddle Whamdiddle: foot-stomping, heart-pumping, head-bobbing music that snags audiences and reels them in!
12. Christmas Music by Magnatune Compilation: the best music from Magnatune
13. Bach and Telemann - Sonatas, Preludes and Fantasias by Voices of Music: Lilting Renaissance & Baroque vocal interpretations
14. Patrons of the Lute by Daniel Shoskes: A feast of Baroque lute
15. Ancient Mosaic with Guitar by La Reverie: Recreating traditional music from a modern perspective
16. Pasquale Pericoli - Sei Sonate a Violoncello e basso by Vito Paternoster: cellist extraordinaire
17. Six Sonatas for Flute and Violin - Opus 51 - Boismortier by Duo de Bois: exquisite chamber music
18. Josquin des Prez Lute Settings by Jacob Heringman: renaissance lute
19. Alessandro Piccinini by Paul Beier: solo lute of the Italian renaissance.
20. Adam Falckenhagen and Sylvius Leopold Weiss, Opere Per Liuto by Paul Beier: solo lute of the Italian renaissance.

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