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D. Scarlattiʼs Works and Their Numbering
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Domenico Scarlattiʼs Works and Their Numbering
Asked ChatGPT4o: "My CD lists numbers like Kk 1. Is this the same as K. 1?"
Yes, the "Kk 1" numbers on your CD refer to the same works as "K. 1." This numbering system organizes Domenico Scarlattiʼs sonatas and primarily uses two catalog systems: the Kirkpatrick Numbers (K.) and the Longo Numbers (L.).
Differences Between Numbering Systems
Kirkpatrick Numbers (K.)
- Ralph Kirkpatrick: An American musicologist who published a catalog of Scarlattiʼs sonatas in 1953. This catalog is known as the "Kirkpatrick Numbers," shown as "K. 1," etc. There are 555 sonatas in total, and Kirkpatrickʼs catalog is the most widely used.
Longo Numbers (L.)
- Alessandro Longo: An Italian musicologist who first systematically cataloged Scarlattiʼs sonatas. His catalog, known as the "Longo Numbers," uses "L. 1," etc. However, due to duplications and errors, it was widely used only until Kirkpatrickʼs catalog was introduced.
Specific Examples
Here are examples where the Kirkpatrick and Longo numbers correspond:
- K. 1 = L. 366
- K. 2 = L. 367
- K. 3 = L. 378
Thus, the "Kk 1" or "K. 1" in your CD booklet refers to the same sonata, using Ralph Kirkpatrickʼs catalog numbers.
References
- Ralph Kirkpatrick, "Domenico Scarlatti" (1953)
- This book provides a detailed account of Scarlattiʼs life and works.
- Howard Ferguson, "Keyboard Sonatas" in "The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians"
- This dictionary details the historical background and organization of Scarlattiʼs keyboard sonatas.
This systematic cataloging clarifies that different numbering systems refer to the same works.
Asked ChatGPT4o: "Do we know the composition dates of Scarlattiʼs sonatas?"
The exact composition dates of Domenico Scarlattiʼs sonatas are largely unknown. However, some clues help estimate when certain sonatas were composed.
Sources of Information
1. Essercizi per Gravicembalo
- Published in 1738: Scarlattiʼs only self-supervised publication, released in London, contains 30 sonatas (K. 1–30) known to be composed around that time.
2. Court Life
- Lisbon and Madrid: Scarlatti moved to Lisbon as the music teacher of Princess Maria Barbara and later to Madrid when she became Queen of Spain. From 1719 to 1757, he composed many of his sonatas.
3. Manuscripts
- Venice and Parma Manuscripts: These collections contain many sonatas believed to have been composed between 1742 and 1757, reflecting Scarlattiʼs later creative period.
Estimating Composition Dates
1. Musical Style Changes
- Early, Middle, and Late Styles: Stylistic shifts in Scarlattiʼs sonatas help estimate their composition periods. Early sonatas are simpler, while later ones are technically complex.
2. Historical Documents
- Letters and Records: Some letters and documents offer hints about the dates of certain sonatas, though such records are limited.
References
- Ralph Kirkpatrick, "Domenico Scarlatti" (1953)
- Howard Ferguson, "Keyboard Sonatas" in "The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians"
While exact composition dates remain elusive, these clues provide reasonable estimates for some works.
Asked ChatGPT4o: "Does the fact that the first published works were numbered 1–30 mean Kirkpatrick numbers are unrelated to composition dates?"
Yes, the Kirkpatrick numbers (K. numbers) are not related to the chronological order of composition. Ralph Kirkpatrick designed this numbering system in 1953 to systematically organize Scarlattiʼs sonatas based on musical characteristics rather than composition dates or publication order.
About Kirkpatrick Numbers
Numbering Criteria
- Systematic Organization: Kirkpatrick numbered the sonatas based on his research and analysis, independent of composition dates.
Other Numbering Systems
- Longo Numbers (L. Numbers): Similarly, Alessandro Longoʼs numbering does not follow chronological or publication order but is based on his own organizational method.
Differences Between Numbering and Composition Dates
Essercizi per Gravicembalo
- Published in 1738: The sonatas in this collection (K. 1–30) were chosen for publication but are not necessarily Scarlattiʼs earliest works.
References
- Ralph Kirkpatrick, "Domenico Scarlatti" (1953)
- Howard Ferguson, "Keyboard Sonatas" in "The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians"
These resources explain that Kirkpatrick numbers are unrelated to composition dates.
Asked ChatGPT4o: "Why did Scarlatti publish only 30 sonatas?"
1. Educational Purpose
As the music teacher of Princess Maria Barbara, Scarlatti likely composed the "Essercizi" as technical exercises for educational use.
2. Commercial Considerations
Publishing music was costly at the time. A set of 30 sonatas was a manageable and commercially viable number.
3. Selection of Representative Works
Scarlatti may have chosen these 30 pieces to showcase his style and compositional techniques.
4. London Activities
Published in London, the collection likely served to promote Scarlattiʼs work within the influential London music scene.
References
- Ralph Kirkpatrick, "Domenico Scarlatti" (1953)
- Howard Ferguson, "Keyboard Sonatas" in "The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians"
These factors combined likely explain why Scarlatti published only 30 sonatas in his lifetime.