Scarlatti incredible tempo markings in K 162

[ignaceii]

In a Peeters Edition of a group of Scarlatti sonatas, I took the K.162.
Now the andante starts at metronome 112, per quarter note, so at each beat of the metronome a quarter note should be played.
That is very accceptible. Now in the following theme, same 1st movement, the allegro is marked 152 per quarter note. There are more 1/8 and 1/16 in it than quarters.
I tried it, but I stopped. As with many metronome markings, is this acceptable. When played, it is presto are almost prestissimo.

Any advise on this. Please try it, with perhaps a Imslp score.
It just takes away your motivation to start it. Of course you need to start slow, but still ?

[outin]

Scarlatti did not give those metronome markings. Not even sure if he gave the tempo indications, since he didn't always. And when he did, it necessarily wasn't about speed at all but the rhythmic character of the piece. Some scholars (like Kirkpatrick) think the sonatas are commonly played too fast. I tend to agree, because they lose a lot of their quality when made into show-off pieces. So you can just ignore the metronome markings and see what you can make of the piece.

[ignaceii]

I fully agree. I just played it, in to what to me is an allegro.
It does keep disturbing people the metronome indications by publishers. At least, they could explain where they come from. Or they are misprints. But again, it is the character of the piece that matters. As the allegro at that metronome speeds is again followed by the andante at 112, it would sound totally crazy.
Beethoven markings same thing. No one plays at thiose speeds, although first generation pianists like Hofman, even Gieseking played extremely fast sometimes.
I will compare it to other sonatas and their indications. It might be just a mistake too, as I already said.
Thanks for commenting.

[dima_76557]

@ ignaceii

I think the tempi were simply marked like that for adequate contrast and I must say that it works really well when you hear the end result. While you are free to do whatever you like, it is still a good target to go for. You may even change your mind afterwards because after you recover from the initial shock, it is not that crazy fast actually.

Here is a recording by 7 pianists in comparison for ideas: