10. Vladimir HorowitzHorowitz Plays Scarlatti
This probably has more to do with the composer than the performer in that Scarlatti, he’s the catchy, crowd-pleasing version of Bach. He comes from the rococo period of classical music, which is post-baroque, pre-classical, and it’s a brief period where composers wanted to be entertainers – especially in Italy, they have a little bit more of a crowd-pleasing style. I mostly put this on there because it’s a great entree for people who don’t like a lot of classical music. Scarlatti’s stuff, especially the stuff that’s in a minor key, it really bears out listening, it’s got a great playful quality. It was written on a harpsichord, but Horowitz plays it on a piano and it’s just something that’s been with me on every format imaginable – it’s on my phone now, it’s what I’m listening to when I’m waiting in line at customs. There’s something about it that really calms me the fuck down.
