Gilbert Rowland - Antonio Soler: Complete Sonatas For Harpsichord (2007) [13CDs] {Naxos}

Catalonian composer Padre Antonio Soler took holy orders to become a monk at the Escorial monastery, near Madrid and became a pupil of master keyboard composer Domenico Scarlatti. Soler may not be as highly regarded as his teacher in many circles, however much of the skill and creativity has undoubtedly rubbed-off. Like his teacher Scarlatti many of these sonatas are characterised for their Spanish flavour of Flamenco song, energetic dance and guitar-like strumming.

Soler wrote much sacred music but he is chiefly remembered for his over 150 keyboard sonatas the majority of which were composed for the harpsichord. Soler’s sonatas, as seen on this release, are generally presented in a single movement although a few of them can be found in several movements. We are told in the excellent booklet notes by harpsichord soloist Gilbert Rowland that researchers now consider it was customary to perform many of the short single movement sonatas in pairs.

Arguably Soler’s sonatas for harpsichord are more conventional and have slightly less character than those of Scarlatti but on this release soloist Gilbert Rowland proficiently displays countless episodes of flair imagination and many surprises.

Gilbert Rowland gives a fine performance making light work of both the fiendishly difficult and flamboyant sonatas 13 and 14 and the technical demands of the sonata 119 with its organ-like qualities. The machine-like drive and vigour necessary in sonata 72 and the repetitive and rapid main theme of the sonata No. 12, which sounds like a cross between the nursery rhythm ‘Three Blind Mice’ and Mendelssohn’s ‘Wedding March‘, present little difficulty for the soloist owing to his superb dexterity and control. Rowland can play with sensitivity and refinement as heard in the tenderly melodic and imaginative sonata 24, displaying character and unequivocal communication in the Scarlatti-like theme in the inventive sonata 25.

Many discs of harpsichord works do not always make for sustained listening but with this Naxos release the enjoyment was certainly enduring. A really fine performance from Gilbert Rowland who was an inspired choice by Naxos for this cycle of Soler sonatas.

Track List

DISC 1
1.Sonata for keyboard, No 1 in A
2.Sonata for keyboard, No 85 in F sharp minor
3.Sonata for keyboard, No. 90 in F sharp major
4.Sonata for keyboard, No 110 in D flat major
5.Sonata for keyboard, No. 54 in D minor
6.Sonata for keyboard, No 15 in D minor
7.Sonata for keyboard, No 101 in F major
8.Sonata for keyboard, No 18 in C minor
9.Sonata for keyboard, No 19 in C minor
10.Sonata for keyboard, No 43 in G major
11.Sonata for keyboard No. 91 in C major, Op. 4/1
Composed by Antonio Soler
Gilbert Rowland - Harpsichord



DISC 2
1.Sonata for keyboard, No 35 in G major
2.Sonata for keyboard, No 116 in G major
3.Sonata for keyboard, No 16 in E flat major
4.Sonata for keyboard, No 17 in E flat major
5.Sonata for keyboard, No. 87 in G minor
6.Sonata for keyboard, No. 42 in G minor
7.Sonata for keyboard, No 46 in C major
8.Sonata for keyboard, No 52 in E minor
9.Sonata for keyboard, No 106 in E minor
10.Sonata for keyboard, No 83 in F major
11.Sonata for keyboard No 92 in D Major, Op 4/2
Composed by Antonio Soler
Gilbert Rowland - Harpsichord



DISC 3
1.Sonata for keyboard, No 34 in E major, K. I. B. 34
2.Sonata for keyboard, No 32 in G minor
3.Sonata for keyboard, No 57 in G minor
4.Sonata for keyboard, No 33 in G major
5.Sonata for keyboard, No 117 in D minor
6.Sonata for keyboard, No 55 in F major
7.Sonata for keyboard, No 69 in F major
8.Sonata for keyboard, No 28 in C major
9.Sonata for keyboard, No 29 in C major
10.Sonata for keyboard, No 50 in C major
11.Sonata for keyboard, No 93 in F major
Composed by Antonio Soler
Gilbert Rowland - Harpsichord



DISC 4
1.Sonata for keyboard, No 30 in G major
2.Sonata for keyboard, No 31 in G major
3.Sonata for keyboard, No 49 in D minor
4.Sonata for keyboard, No 120 in D minor
5.Sonata for keyboard, No 41 in F major
6.Sonata for keyboard, No. 89 in F major
7.Sonata for keyboard, No 36 in C minor
8.Sonata for keyboard, No 53 in A major "De clarines"
9.Sonata for keyboard, No 26 in E minor
10.Sonata for keyboard, No 27 in E minor
11.Sonata for keyboard, No 94 in G major
Composed by Antonio Soler
Gilbert Rowland - Harpsichord



DISC 5
1.Sonata for keyboard, No 73 in D major
2.Sonata for keyboard, No 74 in D major
3.Sonata for keyboard, No 118 in A minor
4.Sonata for keyboard, No 38 in C major
5.Sonata for keyboard, No 105 E flat major
6.Sonata for keyboard, No 2 in E flat major
7.Sonata for keyboard, No 58 in G major
8.Sonata for keyboard, No 114 in D minor
9.Sonata for keyboard, No 5 in F major
10.Sonata for keyboard, No 6 in F major
11.Sonata for keyboard, No 95 in A major
Composed by Antonio Soler
Gilbert Rowland - Harpsichord



DISC 6
1.Sonata for keyboard, No 4 in G major
2.Sonata for keyboard, No 102 in D minor
3.Sonata for keyboard, No 104 in D minor
4.Sonata for keyboard, No 109 in F major
5.Sonata for keyboard, No 56 in F major
6.Sonata for keyboard, No 70 in A minor
7.Sonata for keyboard, No. 71 in A minor
8.Sonata for keyboard, No 111 in D major
9.Sonata for keyboard in C minor, R 100
10.Sonata for keyboard, No 103 in C minor
11.Sonata for keyboard, No 96 in E flat major
Composed by Antonio Soler
Gilbert Rowland - Harpsichord



DISC 7
1.Sonata for keyboard, No 10 in B minor
2.Sonata for keyboard, No 11 in B major
3.Sonata for keyboard, No 39 in D minor
4.Sonata for keyboard, No 3 in B flat
5.Sonata for keyboard, No 80 in G minor
6.Sonata for keyboard, No. 81 in G minor
7.Sonata for keyboard, No 82 in G major
8.Sonata for keyboard, No 113 in E minor
9.Sonata for keyboard, No 112 in C major
10.Sonata for keyboard, No 108 in C major
11.Sonata for keyboard, No 97
Composed by Antonio Soler
Gilbert Rowland - Harpsichord



DISC 8
1.Sonata for keyboard, No 7 in C major
2.Sonata for keyboard, No 8 in C major
3.Sonata for keyboard, No 9 in C major
4.Sonate for keyboard, No 115 in D minor
5.Sonata for keyboard, No. 40 in G major
6.Sonata for keyboard, No 47 in C minor
7.Sonata for keyboard, No 48 in C minor
8.Sonata for keyboard, No 59 in F major
9.Sonata for keyboard, No 20 in C sharp minor
10.Sonata for keyboard, No 21 in C sharp minor
11.Sonata for keyboard, No 98 in B flat major
Composed by Antonio Soler
Gilbert Rowland - Harpsichord



DISC 9
1.Sonata for keyboard, No 86 in D major
2.Sonata for keyboard, No. 84 in D major
3.Sonata for keyboard, No 72 in F minor
4.Sonata for keyboard, No 132 in B flat major
5.Sonata for keyboard, No 119 in B flat major
6.Sonata for keyboard, No 24 in D minor
7.Sonata for keyboard, No 25 in D minor
8.Sonata for keyboard, No 12 in G major "De la Codorniz"
9.Sonata for keyboard, No 13 in G major
10.Sonata for keyboard, No 14 in G major
11.Sonata for keyboard, No 99 in C major
Composed by Antonio Soler
Gilbert Rowland - Harpsichord



DISC 10
1.Sonata for keyboard in D flat
2.Sonata for keyboard, No. 88 in D flat major
3.Sonata for keyboard, No. 77 in F sharp minor
4.Sonata for keyboard, No 78 in F sharp minor
5.Sonata for keyboard, No 37 in D major
6.Sonata for keyboard No. 64 in G major
7.Sonata for keyboard No. 126 in C minor
8.Sonata for keyboard in C major, No 61 Rondo: Allegro
9.Sonata for keyboard in C major, No 61 Allegretto
10.Sonata for keyboard in C major, No 61 Minue di rivolti: Tempo Suo
11.Sonata for keyboard in C major, No 61 Allegro
Composed by Antonio Soler
Gilbert Rowland - Harpsichord



DISC 11
1. Harpsichord Sonata in C major
2. Harpsichord Sonata No. 22 in D flat major
3. Harpsichord Sonata No. 23 in D flat major
4. Harpsichord Sonata No. 128 in E minor
5. Harpsichord Sonata No. 45 in C major, "Por la Princesa de Astria"
6. Harpsichord Sonata No. 51 in C major
7. Harpsichord Sonata No. 65 in A minor: I. Andante cantabile
8. Harpsichord Sonata No. 65 in A minor: II. Allegro assai
9. Harpsichord Sonata No. 65 in A minor: III. Intento con movimento contrario
10.Harpsichord Sonata No. 127 in D major
11.Harpsichord Sonata No. 62 in B flat major: I. Rondo: Andantino con moto
12.Harpsichord Sonata No. 62 in B flat major: II. Allegretto expresivo
13.Harpsichord Sonata No. 62 in B flat major: III. Minue di rivolti: Tempo suo
14.Harpsichord Sonata No. 62 in B flat major: IV. Allegro spiritoso
Composed by Antonio Soler
Gilbert Rowland - Harpsichord



DISC 12
1. Harpsichord Sonata in C major: Harpsichord Sonata in C major (without Rubio number)
2. Harpsichord Sonata No. 130 in G minor
3. Harpsichord Sonata No. 121 in C major
4. Harpsichord Sonata No. 63 in F major: I. Cantabile
5. Harpsichord Sonata No. 63 in F major: II. Allegro
6. Harpsichord Sonata No. 63 in F major: III. Intento
7. Harpsichord Sonata No. 67 in D major: I. Andante con moto
8. Harpsichord Sonata No. 67 in D major: II. Rondon: Allegro
9. Harpsichord Sonata No. 67 in D major: III. Non presto
10.Harpsichord Sonata No. 125 in C minor
11.Harpsichord Sonata No. 44 in C major
12.Harpsichord Sonata No. 107 in F major
13.Harpsichord Sonata No. 79 in F sharp major: I. Cantabile
14.Harpsichord Sonata No. 79 in F sharp major: II. Allegro
Composed by Antonio Soler
Gilbert Rowland - Harpsichord



DISC 13
1. Harpsichord Sonata No. 60 in C minor: I. Cantabile
2. Harpsichord Sonata No. 60 in C minor: II. Allegro
3. Harpsichord Sonata in G major: Harpsichord Sonata in G major (without Rubio number)
4. Harpsichord Sonata in G major, "Rondo": Harpsichord Sonata in G major, "Rondo" (without Rubio number)
5. Harpsichord Sonata No. 66 in C major: I. Andante expressivo
6. Harpsichord Sonata No. 66 in C major: II. Allegro assai spiritoso
7. Harpsichord Sonata No. 66 in C major: III. Intento
8. Harpsichord Sonata No. 68 in E major: I. Cantabile con moto
9. Harpsichord Sonata No. 68 in E major: II. Allegro
10.Harpsichord Sonata No. 68 in E major: III. Intento
11.Harpsichord Sonata No. 75 in F major
12.Harpsichord Sonata No. 76 in F major
Composed by Antonio Soler
Gilbert Rowland - Harpsichord