Composer

:

Raymond Lewenthal

Genre

:

Keyboard

Style

:

Keyboard

Average_duration

:

3:52

Raymond Lewenthal's 'Toccata alla Scarlatti' is a virtuosic piano piece that pays homage to the Baroque composer Domenico Scarlatti. The piece was composed in 1965 and premiered by Lewenthal himself in the same year. The 'Toccata alla Scarlatti' is a single-movement work that is characterized by its fast and lively tempo, intricate ornamentation, and use of Baroque-style figurations. The piece begins with a bold and energetic introduction that sets the tone for the rest of the work. The main body of the piece is made up of a series of variations on a theme that is reminiscent of Scarlatti's keyboard sonatas. Throughout the piece, Lewenthal showcases his technical prowess with lightning-fast runs, arpeggios, and trills. The use of ornamentation is also a prominent feature of the work, with Lewenthal incorporating mordents, turns, and other embellishments into the music. Despite its Baroque influences, the 'Toccata alla Scarlatti' also incorporates elements of modernism. The harmonies are more complex than those found in Scarlatti's music, and there are moments of dissonance that add a touch of tension to the piece. Overall, the 'Toccata alla Scarlatti' is a thrilling and challenging work that showcases Lewenthal's skill as a pianist and his admiration for the music of Domenico Scarlatti.

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