Hi

I was surprised about the ABRSM explanation of the ornament at bar 37 of the Scarlatti Sonata in D minor in the current grade 6 exam. It is suggested that it should be played as a grace note and not an appoggiatura. What is the rationale for this? Why should it be played as a grace note?
Hope someone can help.

Thanks
Graham

Maybe more people can help if we know which Kp number is it ... there are rather a lot of Scarlatti sonatas!

Thanks for that - it may explain the lack of replies!

It is Sonata in D Minor L.413/K.9

I suspect it's an unaccented appoggiatura but I don't understand why it should be in this context. If it is not played this way in the exam will the student loose marks?

Thanks
Graham

Although this is not strictly your issue, I found this on the ABRSM website.
I suppose it means in your case when you play the ornament as you think it should be, and you do so convincingly, it should not be a problem.

Quote
"Q: I’m having trouble playing the ornaments as they are written in the music. Will I be penalized in my exam?
A: There is no single correct way to play ornaments and you should use your musical discretion. If you need to, it is better to simplify the ornaments. Examiners would rather hear a confident simplified version of an ornament than a performance that suffers because you are struggling to perform the suggested interpretation.

There are indeed, but I believe the OP is referring to the piece in the current grade 6 syllabus.

Car Expert

Indeed he is, but not everyone can be bothered to look up the syllabus. Terrible, innit!!

My edition, EMB, Urtext, has the ornament notated as a demi-semiquaver appogg. In the foreward to the volumes the editor discusses at some length the inconsistencies of ornament notation in Scarlatti, and suggests that "... the frequently ambiguous notation gives the performer relatively wide scope to use his taste and imagination in finding the best solution ..." Further, "The general rule is that every ornament subtracts its value from the note which follows it. An exception is the anticipated appoggiatura which is always written out in rhythmic values." So, as I understand it, this is probably the case in bars 37 and 38.
I have a recording of Pletnev playing this sonata deliciously ... he plays them as little grace notes.

Beats me. My edition has an acciacatura (crush note) and that is what I would play unless

a. research showed that Scarlatti himself wrote or intended something different, or
b. it sounded awful

Where there is controversy then you just have to play what YOU think sounds right, whatever so-called "authorities" have to say. The only time to take notice of them is if they back up their view with some sound reasoning.