Soler: Piano Sonata in D Major

This sonata in D major by soler has a fast compound meter which is either three-eight or six-eight, often making use of sixteenth and eighth notes. The piece may be described as having an A-B-c-B-c form with the C sections being parallel to A because they begin the same but in new keys and both containing cadential extensions. The A section is introduced by a little fa-mi-re-mi ornamentation leading into the bass line which is staccato notes in the left hand, starting with mi and then moving down the tonic triad, mi-do-do. The melody in the right hand is do-do-sol-do-mi-do with the do-sol-mi being the more accented of the notes. This motion is repeated but in the dominant. The theme is repeated once more for a third time, again on tonic but an octave lower. This rhythmic and melodic theme which is used often throughout the piece is repeated before the B section begins. The B section begin with the same kind of pick-up ornamentation as the beginning of the song but continues with the scalar melody in the right hand and accompanying octaves in the left hand. These few measures are sort of an introduction to the main part of B which has straight chords in the left hand, possibly eighth notes, accompanying the melody in the right hand which is again sixteenth notes. Next is section C where the theme from the A section returns but in a new key, possibly the dominant which would be A major. The rest of the C section could very simply be described as a lot of cadential action, ending in A major, the key which was modulated to in the B section. The next section, B, sounds as if it modulates to a minor key. It has the same structure as the first B section minus the first few measures of the original. This section, as all of the others, ends with an authentic cadence. Finally, the C section is played, but in the original key. At the end, after all of the cadential stuff, if you have listened carefully you can hear that we are in the original key.
Like other short sonatas from Soler or Scarlatti I enjoy the fast pace and the simple chord structure which is very good for analysis. The piece is very simple, but the performer contrasts the similar themes by making very good use of dynamics. Without dynamics, I fell that this song would be fairly boring. This piece would sound very nice on an organ or harpsichord. I most enjoy its crisp sound and dancing compound feel.