Sonata in f minor (for harpsichord)

Something I wrote last december.

Hi @mossy84,

I love the first movement as it's a successful sonata itself like those Scarlatti Sonatas. Very nice use of imitation between the voices, sequence and the galant style. I hope you can add just a few dynamic markings like f and p to have more contrast of volume, especially those repeated passages! Also adding some ornaments like mordents, turns and trills will be great! The use of sonata form is more classical here though with the return of the 1st subject in the tonic key in the recapitulation but it's absolutely fine.

For the second movement, I like the ornamented melody common in a slow movement of a galant style sonata!

I like the third movement for its simple counterpoint for a scherzo movement! I love the middle section even more with its sonority! I enjoy this movement throughout with its energy!

For the fourth movement the overall section is quite similiar to the finale of Beethoven's op.110 with two recitative and fugue alternating! The move to D minor in the first recitative is quite unexpected for me in a good way. In the first fugue you introduce a second subject in b.49 and I find the section a little bit short and I will see what happens next... In the second doloroso you returns the opening theme but in G minor, then you let the theme in the second movement reappears here and I think the effect is great with its tragic character! The modulation to Ab major in b.88 for me is quite abrupt for me. I think you can add a longer transition to it! The second fugue is the same to the first fugue except in key for me and some of the passages cut. I think you can some new counterpoint to it. I like the ending starting from b.142! Very exciting there to push the climax to the F major ending!

I really enjoy this and thanks for sharing!

Henry

The sound of the harpsichord is pretty good.

The first movement is rich and has a chordal texture balanced with the melodies. There are some spots where the engraving is confusing because of misused layers (in my opinion): bar 35 ...

The second movement keeps on using the vertical textures, which I like, but they make it sound more classic, even with the sound of the harpsichord. I think it's written more thinking of a piano with pedal because the notes in the left hand with those big leaps...., the bass notes don't have the power of sustain in this instrument. Yes, in this virtual instrument context it will sound, of course.

The third movement is even a bit jazzy! The runs in the second part are beautiful.

Great movement, the last one.

In all, a wonderful piece.

49 minutes ago, Luis Hernández said:I think it's written more thinking of a piano with pedal because the notes in the left hand with those big leaps...., the bass notes don't have the power of sustain in this instrument. Yes, in this virtual instrument context it will sound, of course.

I think it’s written more thinking of a piano with pedal because the notes in the left had with those big leaps….

I originally intended for those bass notes to actually be played using pedals, as pedal harpsichords are a very real thing

An interesting issue, the sustain pedal un Baroque. I think the counterpoint may be blurred.

20 minutes ago, Luis Hernández said:

An interesting issue, the sustain pedal un Baroque. I think the counterpoint may be blurred.

 

i think you misunderstood what i meant, i meant pedal harpsichord where each pedal plays a separate note, like the pedals of an organ

Ah ok. There were also harpsichords with some kind of sustain pedal, that was my mistake.