B flat major was a popular choice for Scarlatti: of his 555 keyboard sonatas, 48 are in that key. Yet there are 76 in D major, 69 in G major, 61 in C major, 57 in F major, and 50 in A major. Could one say that he did not care for minor keys? It certainly could be said that he did not care to tread paths already explored. Indeed, Scarlatti was always prepared to try new, even revolutionary, ideas. This B flat major effort may not be revolutionary, but Scarlatti's use of repetition here, particularly of rhythmic motifs, is both inventive and quite compelling. The work busily opens as a running passage leads to the lively main theme, which is punctuated by a four-note rhythmic motif, with many repetitions during each exposition. At first, it is heard with a trill on its second note, but when subsequently played in the bass register, the trill is dropped. After the exposition is repeated, Scarlatti begins working out his material. While the main theme is substantially transformed, the rhythmic motif seems unchanged. This colorful sonata typically has a duration of four minutes.

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