Ryan Layne Whitney: Scarlatti, Sonata in B-flat, K. 441, on clavicytherium

Domenico Scarlatti: Sonata in B-flat major, K. 441, played on the Steven Sørli lautenwerk clavicytherium, by Ryan Layne Whitney.

This is a clavicytherium, or upright harpsichord, and a lautenwerk, being fitted with synthetic gut strings. To find out more about this fine instrument and several others built by Steven Sørli, visit his web site at http://www.lautenwerk.com/index.htm --- look at the various instruments he builds, and listen to the excellent sound samples.

The strings of the instrument, as you will find when reading Mr. Sørli's web site, are mostly fluorocarbon, rather than real gut, with the bass octave strings of copper-wound nylon. It has one choir of 8' strings with a range of GG-d3. The total height is 81" and takes up only a 36" by 18" floor space.

This is a humorous and cheerful Scarlatti sonata, whose main technical difficulty is its wide jumps in the left hand.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• classical
• harpsichord
• lautenwerk
• clavicytherium
• Steven
• Sørli
• Sorli
• Scarlatti
• K441

[begshallots]

Yes wonderful sonata. Beautiful instrument. What nice sound - it just resonates off the wall? If you set the lighting and then the iris on manual we won't drift in and out of darkness.

I look forward to the next video!

[teafruitbat]

@begshallots Thanks for the compliments, and for the camera tip! I just got it and apparently haven't read the manual thoroughly enough.....

[violin617]

Splendid music you have there !!!

Magnificent !!!!! =D =D =D would you mind playing canon in d in your lautenwerk?? =D I really want to hear an amazing music to an excellent baroque musical instrument

=D Thank you =D

[ronkopald]

I doff my cap. Lautenwerk kudos, sir. This helps in understanding some Christopher Parkening liner notes.

[MrEbaby2010]

I love your playing. Very antique.

[Flemingdiesis]

very nice intrument!

[neevox2]

One of my favorite videos ever. Of all time. The sonata and the playing too!!!!!

[jalayong]

Extraordinary! You return us to the majesty of the past. Thanks!

[jessavikingwarrior]

thank you so very much for another wonderful video =)

It is always a delight to listen to you play.

[gerardbedecarter]

Music, instrument and performance. All excellent!