The Frescobaldi Thematic Catalogue Online
Frescobaldi: F2.30. Capriccio del Soggetto scritto sopra l’aria di Roggiero
Scoring: Keyboard
Genre: Capriccio
Key/Signature: G /♮
Main Source: Toccate I (1637)
Notes: The soggetto (subject), quoted at the outset, is Fra Jacopino, an Italian version of Frère Jacques. It is developed over the Ruggiero bass. In the Seconda parte (F 2.30.02) Frescobaldi flaunts his contrapuntal virtuosity by throwing in a third element, the chromatic tetrachord (a descending minor third followed by two minor seconds) into the mix.
