Top > Musicians Related to C.P.E. Bach > D.スカルラッティ > D. Scarlatti and Romanticism

This site introduces unknown composer Emanuel Bach (C. P. E. Bach). This English version was translated from Japanese one by ChatGPT.

Domenico Scarlatti and Romanticism

Domenico Scarlattiʼs works are assigned numbers prefixed with K., and I asked ChatGPT4o about it: "The CD I have has numbers like Kk 1. Is this the same as K. 1?"

Yes, the numbers like “Kk 1” on your CD refer to the same thing as “K. 1”. This numbering is a catalog number used to organize Domenico Scarlattiʼs sonatas, with the main ones being the “Kirkpatrick numbers (K.)” and the “Longo numbers (L.)”.

Differences in Numbering Systems

Kirkpatrick Numbers (K. Numbers)

• Ralph Kirkpatrick: An American musicologist who published a catalog organizing Scarlattiʼs sonatas in 1953. This catalog is known as the “Kirkpatrick numbers” and is represented in the form “K. 1”, etc. There are a total of 555 sonatas by Scarlatti, and the Kirkpatrick numbers are the most widely used.

Longo Numbers (L. Numbers)

• Alessandro Longo: An Italian musicologist who was the first to systematically organize Scarlattiʼs sonatas. His catalog is known as the “Longo numbers” and is represented in the form “L. 1”, etc. However, this catalog contains some duplications and errors and was widely used until the Kirkpatrick numbers appeared.

Specific Examples

Below are examples of sonatas where the Kirkpatrick and Longo numbers match:

• K. 1 = L. 366
• K. 2 = L. 367
• K. 3 = L. 378

Thus, Scarlattiʼs sonatas are organized by two main catalog numbers. The “Kk 1” or “K. 1” listed in CD liner notes or sheet music refers to the same sonata, using the catalog number by Ralph Kirkpatrick.

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.

Through this, it is understood how Scarlattiʼs sonatas are systematically organized and how different numbering systems refer to the same works.

I asked ChatGPT4o: "Do we know the composition years of Scarlattiʼs sonatas?"

The composition years of Domenico Scarlattiʼs sonatas are not fully determined, and many works have unknown exact composition dates. However, there are clues that allow us to estimate the composition periods for some sonatas. Below is an overview of these clues.

Clues to Composition Dates

1. Essercizi per Gravicembalo

• Published in 1738: This is the only collection of works supervised by Scarlatti himself, published in London in 1738. The 30 pieces included (K. 1-30) are known to have been composed around this time.

2. Activities at Court

• Lisbon and Madrid: Scarlatti moved to Lisbon as the music teacher of the Portuguese princess Maria Barbara, and later moved to Madrid when she became the Queen of Spain. This period (from 1719 to 1757) is believed to be when he composed many of his sonatas.

3. Manuscripts and Handwritten Copies

• Venetian and Parma Manuscripts: These manuscripts contain numerous sonatas, estimated to have been composed roughly between 1742 and 1757. These manuscripts reflect Scarlattiʼs activities in the latter part of his life.

Estimating Composition Years

1. Changes in Musical Style

• Early, Middle, and Late Styles: The composition periods of Scarlattiʼs sonatas can be estimated from changes in musical style. For example, early sonatas are relatively simple, while later sonatas are often technically advanced.

2. Documents and Letters

• Historical Records: Clues to the composition years of some sonatas can also be found in Scarlattiʼs letters and documents related to him, although these records are limited.

References

• Ralph Kirkpatrick, “Domenico Scarlatti” (1953)
  • This book provides detailed research on Scarlattiʼs life and works, including estimates of composition years.
• Howard Ferguson, “Keyboard Sonatas” in “The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians”
  • This dictionary details the historical background and style of Scarlattiʼs sonatas.

From this information, while it is difficult to fully determine the composition years of Scarlattiʼs sonatas, clues are available to estimate the composition periods for some works.

I asked ChatGPT4o: "Does the fact that the first published works were numbered 1 to 30 mean that the Kirkpatrick numbers are unrelated to the composition dates?"

Yes, the Kirkpatrick numbers (K. numbers) are not directly related to the composition dates. The Kirkpatrick numbers were introduced by American musicologist Ralph Kirkpatrick in 1953 to systematically organize Scarlattiʼs sonatas, and they are based on his own research and analysis rather than composition dates or publication order.

Overview of Kirkpatrick Numbers

Criteria for Numbering

• Systematic Organization: The Kirkpatrick numbers were assigned to systematically organize Scarlattiʼs sonatas and are not related to composition dates or the order of first publication. Kirkpatrick studied all of Scarlattiʼs works and organized them based on musical characteristics and technical demands.

Other Numbering Systems

• Longo Numbers (L. Numbers): There is also a numbering system by Italian musicologist Alessandro Longo, but it is not based on composition dates or the order of first publication, but rather on Longoʼs method of organization.

Differences Between Composition Dates and Numbering

“Essercizi per Gravicembalo”

• Published in 1738: “Essercizi per Gravicembalo”, the only collection of works supervised and published by Scarlatti himself, was published in London in 1738 and includes 30 sonatas. The sonatas in this collection are numbered K. 1 to K. 30, but this is unrelated to the Kirkpatrick numbers.

Methods for Estimating Composition Dates

Musical Characteristics

• Changes in Style: The composition dates of Scarlattiʼs sonatas are often estimated from changes in musical characteristics and technical demands. For example, early sonatas are simple, while later sonatas are more technically advanced and complex.

Historical Documents

• Letters and Records: Clues to the composition dates of some sonatas can also be found in Scarlattiʼs letters and documents related to him, although these records are limited.

References

• Ralph Kirkpatrick, “Domenico Scarlatti” (1953)
  • This book provides detailed research on Scarlattiʼs life and works, including the method of assigning Kirkpatrick numbers.
• 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.

Based on these materials, it can be understood that the Kirkpatrick numbers are not directly related to the composition dates, and methods for estimating the composition dates of Scarlattiʼs sonatas.

I asked ChatGPT4o: “Why did Scarlatti publish only 30 pieces?”

There are several backgrounds and factors to consider regarding why Domenico Scarlatti published 30 harpsichord sonatas in 1738 as “Essercizi per Gravicembalo”.

1. Educational Intent

Scarlatti worked as the music teacher for the Portuguese princess Maria Barbara (later the Queen of Spain), and his sonatas may have been composed for educational purposes. As indicated by the title “Essercizi” (Exercises), these sonatas were composed for technical practice and were likely positioned as beneficial teaching materials for students.

2. Commercial Reasons

At the time, music publishing was limited and costly, so it was uncommon for composers to publish a large number of works at once. The number 30 was considered an appropriate volume for a publication and was likely judged to be commercially successful.

3. Selection of Representative Works

Scarlatti composed over 555 sonatas in his lifetime, and it is believed that he selected particularly outstanding works for publication. This allowed him to widely introduce his compositional techniques and artistic style.

4. Activities in London

“Essercizi per Gravicembalo”, published in London in 1738, was a work from the period when Scarlatti was active in London. He had influence in the London music scene and likely published an appropriate number of sonatas to spread his works.

References

• Ralph Kirkpatrick, “Domenico Scarlatti” (1953)
  • This book provides detailed research on Scarlattiʼs life and works, including the background of the publication of 30 pieces.
• 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.

These factors combined likely led Scarlatti to publish 30 sonatas as “Essercizi per Gravicembalo”.

I asked ChatGPT4o: “How many pieces were composed before 1738?”

The 30 sonatas that Domenico Scarlatti published in 1738 as “Essercizi per Gravicembalo” are the only collection of works he supervised and published during his lifetime. There are several reasons for this timing of publication.

1. Educational Intent: Scarlatti was active as the music teacher for the Portuguese princess Maria Barbara, and these sonatas may have been composed for educational purposes. The 30 pieces are thought to reflect his educational intent.

2. Commercial Reasons: Music publishing at the time was costly, and 30 pieces were considered an appropriate volume for commercial success.

3. Selection of Representative Works: These 30 pieces may have been selected as representative works of Scarlattiʼs compositional techniques and artistic style.

Regarding the number of pieces composed before 1738, there are few clear records, but it is believed that many of his early works were composed during this period. For example, the 30 pieces included in “Essercizi” were composed during this time and became his first major publication.

Scarlattiʼs sonatas continued to spread through many manuscripts and handwritten copies, but his works became widely recognized mainly due to the reevaluation in the 19th century.

Site search by Google

Upper items

< D.スカルラッティ