Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 exptools 1/6/84; site ihu1m.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!ihnp4!ihu1m!gadfly From: gadfly@ihu1m.UUCP (Gadfly) Newsgroups: net.music.classical Subject: Re: Happy birthday JSB! *** and DS! *** Message-ID: <190@ihu1m.UUCP> Date: Mon, 7-Jan-85 22:11:02 EST Article-I.D.: ihu1m.190 Posted: Mon Jan 7 22:11:02 1985 Date-Received: Wed, 9-Jan-85 01:48:28 EST References: <3219@alice.UUCP> Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Naperville, IL Lines: 44 -- >> 1985 is the 300th anniversary of the birthday of >> Johann Sebastian Bach, in my opinion >> the greatest composer that ever lived. >> Expect a deluge of concerts, recordings, books, >> and articles. Perhaps after three centuries >> his music will finally win the recognition it deserves. But let's not forget that it's also the 300th anniversary of the birthday of Domenico Scarlatti. He was a prolific composer for the harpsichord, and by employing intricate tone clusters was able to create the illusion of dynamics, indeed real passion, on an instrument incapable of them. Domenico grew up (in Italy) playing keyboard in the band of his father, Alessandro, a thoroughly mediocre composer. He remained a player, and he was regarded as a great one, until his father died. At this point Domenico was pushing 40, but he left Italy and wound up in Spain giving harpsichord lessons to the Queen. (There was probably more than one, but I can't remember which queen.) Most of the 555 short sonatas he wrote were exercises for the Queen. He composed for, and played on, a single manual instrument, by the way. Prefer the Kirkpatrick recordings for their authenticity in this regard. In an early PDQ Bach monologue, Peter Schickele mentions that Scarlatti's later works lack the elaborate hand crossings of his earlier works because Scarlatti grew so fat that he was unable to cross his hands on the keyboard with much alacrity. The crowd really howled at that one, but the crowd also howled, many years later, at Schickele's mention of the Wagner Piano Concerto. Wagner *DID* write a piano concerto. There really was a composer named Padre Martini, too. Scarlatti is a true inspiration for those of us in our late thirties who still haven't gotten around to moving heaven and earth. -- *** *** JE MAINTIENDRAI ***** ***** ****** ****** 07 Jan 85 [18 Nivose An CXCIII] ken perlow ***** ***** (312)979-7188 ** ** ** ** ..ihnp4!iwsl8!ken *** ***