Sonata in D minor, Aria (Scarlatti)

About This Song

Scarlatti Sonata guitar sheet music: Domenico Scarlatti was born in Naples, but wrote his keyboard sonatas mostly in Spain, though some early ones date to his years in Portugal. His idiom includes Spanish and Italian elements. According to Scarlatti scholar Ralph Kirkpatrick — the musicologist (and performer) responsible for the “K” numbering system used to catalog the composer’s works: “This Sonata in D minor clearly betrays the composer’s Neapolitan roots. Indeed, thirds here suddenly move from major to minor, a typical feature of Neapolitan keyboard music of the day. More minuet than sonata, this lovely work conjures up an atmosphere of nostalgia and solitude, featuring skeletal textures in its slow-moving music.” Marked merely “Aria,” the piece presents a gentle but stately theme, a tender creation that seems to float effortlessly downward over minor peaks and valleys within the work. Stevan transcribed and transposed the Sonata in D minor, K. 32/L.423/P.14, Aria to the key of E minor in 1986.

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Other similar transcriptions for the classical guitar repertoire.

About The Arranger:

Stevan Pasero is recognized as a important contributor to the guitar repertoire over the past three decades. He has transcribed numerous symphonic works and composed, arranged and produced records for solo, duo and various ensembles. He has recorded 50 albums of music and his works appear on over 1000 other albums. Pasero studied classical guitar, then continued his studies in jazz and flamenco. He attended San Francisco State University where he studied musical analysis, harmony and composition, which led to some post-graduate work in transcription and orchestration. Mr. Pasero is owner and principal of four publishing and distribution music industry companies.