Sonata in B flat Major, K 42, LS 36

Minuetto

During the course of his life, Domenico Scarlatti composed some 550 harpsichord sonatas for his royal pupil and patroness, Queen Maria Barbara of Spain.

This Sonata in B flat Major, K 42, LS 36 is one of the easiest of these sonatas.

It has one single movement : Minuetto.

Its musical structure is A (repeated) - B (repeated).

Although composed for the harpsichord, this sonata is also very beautiful when played on the piano.

Please note that this score contains suggestions for performing the ornaments in accordance with the performance practice of the Baroque period.

These ornaments are as follows :

• Turns (measures 1, 2, 9, 10, 15, 17, 18 and 25) : the turn consists of the upper auxiliary note, main note, lower auxiliary and main note. The turn begins ON the beat and is spread evenly over the entire time value of the main note
• Trills (measures 5, 6 and 13) : trills begin on the upper auxiliary note, ON the beat, and must have at least four notes
• Appoggiaturas (measures 8 and 27) : appoggiaturas are played ON the beat. The short appoggiatura (as in measure 3) is played rapidly and with an incisive accent. The long appoggiatura (as in measure 27) takes one half of the main note's value.
• Mordents (measure 28) : mordents must have an incisive accent. They are played ON the beat and begin on the MAIN note, alternating very quickly with the lower auxiliary note
• Schleifer or slide (measures 7 and 22) : a schleifer is a two-note appoggiatura beginning a third above or below the main note. It is played ON the beat.

Duration : 01:28

Source : Domenico Scarlatti, Sonatas for Harpsichord or Piano.