Alexander Pope: Master of Couplets

Alexander Pope “An Essay on Criticism” 1685 saw the birth of three great composers: Johann Sebastian Bach, perhaps the greatest artist who ever lived; George Frederick Handel, almost his peer; and Domenico Scrlatti, who composed hundreds of keyboard sonatas. Scarlatti was the least of the three, but he merits our attention. I thought this as I listened to a recent piano performance which began with some Scarlatti sonatas. I have always loved Scarlatti: His clarity, his sense of balance on the most immediate levels (each musical phrase poised against the one which follows), his concision (none

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