This D minor work appeared in the second published volume of Scarlatti's keyboard sonatas in 1742. It was likely written in the period 1738 - 1741, but may well predate those years. In any event, it is a relatively early work, but, like almost all the composer's sonatas, came in the latter half of his career when he served in the Spanish Court of Princess (later Queen) Maria Barbara. While Scarlatti wrote comparatively few sonatas in minor keys, he produced 32 in D minor, the most in any minor key. This one exhibits a Spanish influence, even invoking guitar sonorities, a characteristic often noticed in the composer's sonatas. The opening melody, with its spirited rhythmic aspects, sounds obviously Spanish. As many listeners know, Scarlatti's sonatas are in binary form, and the second half is generally devoted, as here, to development and transformation of the material from the first half. In this case, the character of the piece, quite chipper and jaunty to begin with, brightens even more in the latter half. This sonata is rather brief, typically lasting a bit under two minutes.

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