It certainly is true that Scarlatti attempted to imitate the sonorities of various instruments in his keyboard sonatas. For example, having spent most of his career in Spain and Portugal, where the guitar is a popular instrument, he often used strumming and guitar-like effects in his works. In this Sonata in F minor, Scarlatti seems to be capturing something quite different—the wind-dominated sound world that accompanied the gigantes y cabezas, a sort of traditional Spanish parade or procession peopled by strange-looking masked figures. Whether that view is correct or not, the music is lively, with Spanish rhythmic and melodic traits. Marked Allegro, this sonata opens with a playful theme full of swirls, and featuring a jaunty, rhythmic motif. In fact, this brief, catchy morsel repeats throughout, eventually dominating the entire piece. In the latter half, Scarlatti imaginatively develops the material, and maintains the lively, festive mood of the music, its rhythms and brimming with vigor and charm. This attractive sonata typically has a duration of just over three minutes.

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