SONATAS FOR HARPSICHORD

? First recording of harpsichord sonatas by Josep Gallés. ? Harpsichordist Michele Benuzzi found in the Bibioteca de Catalunya in Barcelona the manuscript of 23 keyboard sonatas by Spanish composer Josep Gallés (1758-1836). Gallés was a transitory composer gapping the bridge between Baroque and Classical, like Domenico Scarlatti, whose sonatas they clearly resemble. ? The Sonatas are in one movement in binary form. His style took the heritage of Scarlatti using many of the folkloristic patterns of Spanish music such as guitar-like arpeggios, alternations of major and minor, exotic scales, dance rhythms, use of syncopations and crossed hands as well as the use of extravagant modulations and enharmonic passages. ? A true find by Michele Benuzzi, who already presented newly discovered keyboard works by Nichelmann (BC94809) and Hässler (BC94293, “Excellent…one of the most interesting CD’s I have heard of late” Musicweb).