Scarlatti - Sonata K.1 in d minor on harpsichord

Paul Mauffray, harpsichord
instrument by Vít Bébar
temperament Neidhardt 1732 Grosse Stadt, A = 415
filmed at the Augustinian Library,
Mendel Museum, Brno, Czech Republic

[shadowjuan]

This was a nice and sweet enjoyable performance. I usually have my doubts about Scarlatti but I think it’s because so many pianists play it with such rush that one can barely grasp what’s happening. Hearing it played on the harpsichord in a nice and elegant way gives me a refreshing look at Scarlatti, a look I had not seen before.

[leahsinger]

Beautiful playing! It's so wonderful to hear this sonata on the harpsichord. Thank you!

[jalbiindolcheey]

Everything's beautiful about this video. You got me in tears.

[Reikken]

If I had never heard of a harpsichord, from just hearing this I'd probably think it's to the piano what the electric guitar is to the acoustic guitar.

[Madaduxum]

Very well played, lively, vibrant composition, hard to imagine this might have been Scarlatti first composition.

[r.duroucher]

Thank you for posting this beautiful video. Your playing is exquisite.

[SanAleksiusII]

Such a lovely performance!! I always thought harpsichord sounded more alive compared to the piano.

[neilyates]

It's very unusual to find an Italian style harpsichord with two manuals! The Italian school of harpsichord making was generally very conservative with early and late instruments very similar: one keyboard with two stops only, 2 x 8' and rarely anything else. The box slides they used for the jacks were hard to make but tended to last forever and the thin case construction braced against the solid bottoms also lasted well although with a little too much flex which meant tuning usually lasted only a few hours at most. Still, a fine instrument for performance of Scarlatti.

[pizarraselprofe]

WHAT AN ELEGAN & EPIC INSTRUMENT !!!!

[rebeccapugh]

Superb. And look at those carved legs, wow!

[erika]

Excellent! The instrument is too cute. I want to nibble on the keys because they look like they're made of chocolate.

[timothydewa]

Really I do want to feel the weight of the key~press, such a crisps tone-playing finger in clarity tempo.

[Wahatoyas]

I saw a hillbilly play this perfectly, it was a perfect example of dont judge a book by its cover

[CarmenReyes-emnp]

Interesantisimo me voy a dormir tarde.

[Maisiewuppp]

I found it a played a little ploddingly and I am not referring to the tempo which was fine.