ANTONIO SOLER : Sonatas for Harpsichord, Vol. 5 (Gilbert Rowland) (1999) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The first of the unmistakably Spanish sounding sonatas in D major, Nos. 73/74, is an exhilarating and powerful dance movement whose texture is often enriched by a chain of thirds in the left hand. The driving rhythms are temporarily halted in the middle of each section by the dramatic use of diminished seventh chords, after which the second subject appears, first in the minor, then in the major. No. 74 is held together by extended melodic phrases in the right hand accompanied by guitar-like chords in the left hand, often with flamenco orientated harmonies. A more exultant passage containing bagpipe drone effects and virtuoso arpeggios is introduced towards the end of each half.

No. 118 in A minor is a lively Spanish dance movement in 6/8 time. Short repeated phrases in the manner of Scarlatti contribute to its forward drive, rapid repeated chords in the left hand portray the strumming of guitars, and there is a surprising modulation in the second section where, having paused on a chord of A major, Soler plunges straight into the key of B flat.

Sonata No. 38 in C major is rich in thematic material and nearly all the seemingly folk-inspired melodies appear to derive from the opening bars. The style is very close to Scarlatti, particularly some of the figurations in the left hand.

Of the Sonatas Nos. 105/2 in E flat major, the first is an affecting slow movement of much lyricism and beauty. The first half of the work ends in the relative minor instead of the more customary dominant, and there are some irregular phrase lengths. The second, on the other hand, is a busy driving work of much virtuosity and brilliance. Trills, repeated notes, passages in thirds, left hand jumps and surprising modulations are all there to dazzle the listener. The figure heard at the beginning of the work appears in a type of inversion just after the start of the second section.

Sonata No. 58 in G major is one of several sonatas by Soler conceived in Rondo form rather than his customary binary form and many of the almost pianistic figurations point to this being a late work. The two long episodes before and after the second appearance of the Rondo theme involve virtuoso writing which is in marked contrast to the perky, audaciously naïve theme itself.

A graceful, Minuet-type movement of much charm, Sonata No. 114 in D minor is held together by triplet figurations. The general harmonic drift is closer to the idiom of Haydn or C.P.E. Bach than that of Scarlatti, suggesting that this is also a comparatively late work.

In the first of Sonatas Nos. 5/6 in F major, much use is made of the opening material, particularly the triplet in the first bar, and the lyrical second subject is clearly derived from it. There is some imitative writing between the hands, and there are some wide leaps in the left hand. No. 6 is a driving Presto movement of much technical intricacy in the manner of Scarlatti. There are some remarkable modulations, repeated chords imitating the Spanish guitar, and both sections end in the minor.

Sonata No. 95 in A major is the fifth of a set of six four-movement sonatas (Op. 4) dating from 1779. The work begins with along Haydnesque slow movement with lyrical writing offset by more florid passages in the right hand. The second movement has much verve and forward movement. Halfway through each section there is a fermata coupled with the term arbitri, which suggests a short cadenza is intended to be inserted at that point. Of the contrasted pairs of Minuets which follow, the first is marked Maestoso and has a very similar theme to the first minuet of Sonata No. 93 (Naxos 8.553464). The second is much quicker and in four sections followed by a repeat of the first section. The Allegro Pastoril with its jaunty rhythms, folk-like melodies and country dance elements brings this attractive work to a suitably lively conclusion. Gilbert Rowland

Padre Antonio Soler (1729-1783)

1    Sonata No. 73 In D Major    7:08
2    Sonata No. 74 In D Major    7:40
3    Sonata No. 118 In A Minor    4:15
4    Sonata No. 38 In C Major    4:55
5    Sonata No. 105 In E Flat Major    4:58
6    Sonata No. 2 In E Flat Major    3:26
7    Sonata No. 58 In G Major    4:32
8    Sonata No. 114 In D Major    4:52
9    Sonata No. 5 In F Major    5:32
10    Sonata No. 6 In F Major    3:49
11-14    Sonata No. 95 In A Major    (25:40)

Harpsichord – Gilbert Rowland