Antonio Soler (1729-1783) was a Spanish monk and composer, whose full name was Padre Antonio Francisco Javier José Soler y Ramos. At the age of six he was alowed to enter the singing school of the Montserrat Monastery near Barcelona. In 1752 he became a Hieronymite in the Escorial monastery in Madrid. Here he remained active as organist and choir director for the rest of his life.



In the Escorial he received instruction from Domenico Scarlatti, who must have made a strong creative impression on the priest. He wrote over 150 sonatas for keyboard instruments (primarily for harpsichord, some for two harpsichords). Soler also wrote church music and organ compositions (with and without organ or string accompaniment), all in all almost 500 works.