Sonatas for Harpsichord (London, 1739)

According to scholars and critics, it is Pescetti's compositions for harpsichord that have the most merit, especially when considering their stylistic innovation. His compositions that survived to today are his six Sonate per Clavicembalo, which remained in manuscript form, and his Sonate per Gravicembalo, which were published in London in 1739, and are presented in this recording.
These compositions are representative of the transition from the Baroque style to the Galante Style. Generally speaking, their movements vary in number from two to four and typically are written in contrasting styles. Among the notable aspects that successfully distinguish Pescetti's music, we can highlight the clarity of its exposition, its elegance, its essentiality, its ephemeral but incisive inspiration as well as the uncommon spontaneity and fluidity of its language.
These Sonatas for Harpsichord represent a splendid example of 18th century Italian music in the sense of art as an act communicating sound, images, feelings and impressions.
Pescetti's music requires a harpsichord with a full and deep tone that can hold a note for a long time, but also has a precise and penetrating attack. Indeed for this recording an extraordinary historical instrument has been used, i.e. copy Pascal Taskin (Paris 1769), whose original instrument is safely kept at the well known Russell Collection in Edinburgh.

Iconography: Gianluca Corona, Pachino, 2009, oil on wood

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