Only One Thing

Only One Thing represents the harmonic pattern of Domenico Scarlatti's Sonata K20. This painting captures the first 24 bars of the opening section of the sonata, so you will hear it straightaway when you begin the recording. Brace yourself - this work is played on harpsichord. It is bright and speedy, and gains momentum over time. The title Only One Thing refers to the fact that the painting captures only one thing - music, without any reference to a setting, landscape, narrative, or any other concept.

I wanted to paint Sonata K20 from the first moment I heard it. Early on, I made a large sketch of K20 in its entirety. This drawing is my third attempt to capture the sonata, and the notation you see contains some the labor of the previous two attempts.