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The short answer
Two old copies tell different stories about time. Keyboard Sonata in A major, K. 208 is a sonata by Domenico Scarlatti from the Baroque era. PlayPiano puts it at Level 6, an estimate.
- sonata
- Baroque
- gentle
Also known as Domenico Scarlatti, Sonata in A major, K. 208 / L. 238.
History
Henle's critical source list places K208 in a Venice volume dated 1753 and a Parma volume dated 1752. Those dates belong to manuscript witnesses, not to the act of composition. The sonata's survival in different copied collections is part of its history, while its exact writing date remains unknown.
Sources
What to listen for
A song becomes more decorated
The singing opening gains decoration. Follow the longer line beneath the increasingly quick detail.
Repeated gestures lead to a sparse close
Upper gestures repeat before descending continuation thins toward the first repeat. Hear the phrase release.
A new gesture changes the colour
The second span introduces repeated-note material and chromatic continuation. Compare its direction with the first song.
Related figures complete the second span
Familiar closing shapes lead to the final repeat. Hear their ending purpose within the changed continuation.
How to practise it
Keep the upper singing line above a quiet regular lower pulse.
- Hear longer upper values through small gestures.
- Keep the lower quarters supportive.
- Read altered notes carefully.
How hard is it
An ornamented singing line and expressive harmonic pacing require mature touch and accompaniment balance.
About this piece
- Collection
- Sonata journeys
- Licence
- CC0
- Source
- musescore.com
More by Domenico Scarlatti
- Keyboard Sonata in D minor, K. 32 / L. 423 (Aria)Level 3, estimatedWith Maestro
- Keyboard Sonata in B minor, K. 87Level 6, estimatedWith Maestro
- Sonata in B minor, K. 27Level 7, estimatedWith Maestro
