Composer

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Carl Tausig

Genre

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Keyboard

Style

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Keyboard

Average_duration

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3:07

Carl Tausig's "Capriccio for piano (after Scarlatti)" is a virtuosic work for solo piano that was composed in the mid-19th century. The piece is based on themes from sonatas by the Baroque composer Domenico Scarlatti, and Tausig's arrangement showcases his own technical prowess as well as his admiration for Scarlatti's music. The "Capriccio" was composed in 1857 and premiered the following year in Berlin. The piece is divided into three movements, each of which is based on a different Scarlatti sonata. The first movement is based on Scarlatti's Sonata in D minor, K. 141, and features a lively and energetic theme that is developed through a series of virtuosic variations. The second movement is based on Scarlatti's Sonata in E major, K. 380, and is more lyrical and introspective in character. The final movement is based on Scarlatti's Sonata in D major, K. 96, and is a fast and furious tour-de-force that showcases Tausig's technical prowess. One of the most striking characteristics of Tausig's "Capriccio" is its virtuosity. The piece is filled with rapid runs, arpeggios, and other technical challenges that require a high level of skill and dexterity from the performer. Tausig was known for his own virtuosic abilities as a pianist, and his "Capriccio" is a testament to his own technical prowess as well as his admiration for Scarlatti's music. Another characteristic of the "Capriccio" is its use of Scarlatti's music as source material. Tausig was a great admirer of Scarlatti's music, and his arrangement of the sonatas in the "Capriccio" showcases his own interpretation of Scarlatti's themes. Tausig's use of Scarlatti's music also reflects a broader trend in the 19th century of composers and performers looking back to earlier music as a source of inspiration and material for their own compositions. Overall, Tausig's "Capriccio for piano (after Scarlatti)" is a virtuosic and technically demanding work that showcases both Tausig's own abilities as a pianist and his admiration for the music of Domenico Scarlatti. The piece remains a popular choice for pianists today, and is a testament to the enduring appeal of virtuosic piano music.

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