As has already been remarked, Scarlatti was the principal representative
in the development of the form of the clavier sonata. Scarlatti, but
a few years older than J. Sebastian Bach, has the same distinguishing
marks as his great contemporary. He holds himself firmly to a clearly
determined form, conditioned by musical laws. The principal difference
between the two composers is that Scarlatti was inclined to make the
brilliant technique which he possessed as virtuoso the real object of
the composition, while in the case of Bach, even in things of lesser
dimensions, introspection and artistic intensity manifested themselves.
Nevertheless, the flowing and dazzling manner of writing which Scarlatti
possessed and which was the result of his Italian temperament, must
have often served Sebastian Bach as a model. Scarlatti's form inclines
more toward that of the etude than of the true sonata. It was through
Baldassare Galuppi (1706-1785), a pupil of Lotti and a very talented
composer, that the piano sonata received characteristic expression.
In his works after the manner of Corelli and Tartini, the display and
passage work appeared only as a subordinate element. In comparing
Galuppi's celebrated sonata in D major with similar works of Scarlatti,
we perceive the great difference between the two masters.
The sonata's greatest companion-piece, the symphony, also came into
existence through the efforts of Italian musicians. The word sinfonia
first appears with a very uncertain meaning. In general, it was used
to mark the distinction between vocal and instrumental movements in
cantatas, in sacred music, and, later, in opera. At the beginning of
the seventeenth century we find the word used for the first time in
large vocal works, and applied to interludes, ritornelle and preludes.
This became the general custom when opera was introduced, and the short
instrumental prelude was always entitled symphony. This last species of
composition is, indeed, to be considered as the origin of our classical
symphonic form. Not all the early operas had instrumental introductions,
although Jacopo Peri himself made use of them. In his "Eurydice" there
is a symphony for three flutes! Monteverde considerably enlarged the
form, but seemed to find in it no characteristic expression of his
ideas. At that time the form consisted of three parts, a slow movement,
a quicker movement, and again a slow movement. This form of the symphony
had really no artistic connection with the opera which followed, but
was only a musical piece to inform the hearers that the performance was
about to begin. Later, however, came works with more marked and pertinent
character, which bore the names, overture and toccata. Finally, through
the introduction of ballet-melodies, the symphony became of a livelier
nature. At the same time, the word symphony gained more significance,
and, as its inner construction kept pace with the modest beginning of the
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