Scarlatti usually marked his sonatas with one simple tempo indication, like Allegro or Andante. Occasionally, he was more explicit, as here in this E flat major effort, which is marked Andantino cantabile. The cantabile means the piece is to be played in singing style, and one can safely assert that it would be difficult to imagine a more appropriate directive for such lovely, songful music.

Preserved in the 12th Venice volume of the composer's keyboard works, dating to 1756, this Sonata leads off with a lyrical theme that rises from the middle register and gradually takes on greater brightness and animation. More courtly and elegant than warm and romantic, its captivating lyricism is rooted in the late-Baroque period or, better, in the early-Classical period. Still, in its tendency to yearn passionately, especially in the insistent figurations of triplets that seem to blossom ecstatically in the brightest sunshine, it certainly does look toward the Romantic movement.

Throughout this six-minute masterwork, the music comes across as a bit livelier than its Andantino marking would normally suggest. As usual in Scarlatti's sonatas, the second half is devoted to thematic development, and here the music retains the same elegant songfulness while adding a measure of wistfulness, especially at the beginning of this section.

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