NEPTA SPEAKER SERIES Minutes

Neglected Corners of the Piano Repertoire

NEPTA Editions Committee: Sandra Rosenblum (Chair), Deborah Yardley Beers, Miriam Gargarian and Sivan Etedgee.

Date of Meeting: January 26, 2015

Submitted by Bert Yocom

Sandra Rosenblum spoke about Padre Antonio Soler and discussed 3 of his sonatas and played portions of these pieces. Below are some characteristics of Soler's style:

- Blend of Baroque and early Classical styles

- Most sonatas in binary form, some with unusual key schemes

- Pieces colored by use of contrasting ranges on the keyboard

- Use of Spanish dance rhythms; imitation of guitar, castanets, and drums

- Sharp dissonance, surprising chords and modulations

- Ornaments notated inconsistently, with use often left to player's discretion

- Trills may begin on the upper auxiliary or on the main note