Padre Antonio Soler was born on December 3, 1729 in Olot (Spain). He began his musical career, like Fernando Sor, in the Benedictine monastery of Montserrat. He was a monk (Hieronymite) and was also a priest. The famed Domenico Scarlatti was among his tutors. the degree of Scarlatti's influence is debated.. There are undeniable similarities in their sonatas, in addition to the obvious fact that they wrote almost always in binary format. The two composers employed broad jumps, repeated hand crossings, and scalar passages in thirds and sixths. But there are many stylistic differences like the predilection of Padre Antonio Soler for the common musical device called "Alberti bass", a device seldom used by Scarlatti. The acciaccatura was another device where both differed in its use: frequently used by Scarlatti but seldom used by Soler. Perhaps Scarlatti profited from the relationship with his student.

Choir master and organist of Escurial (royal palace), his functions were to teach and perform as a first organist as well as to compose the music for the offices. One of his pupils was child Gabriel de Borbon, son of Carlos III. The child was a talented student, and several of the harpsichord sonatas of Padre Antonio Soler were expressly written for him.

The Spanish composer Padre Antonio Soler is mainly known by his sonatas for harpsichord. Very prolific, he composed: more than 200 sonatas for the harpsichord, 6 quintets for string quartet and organ, 6 concertos for rare combination of two organs, 9 masses, 25 Church anthems, 5 requiems, 60 psalms, 13 Magnificats, 21 pieces burial service, 5 motets, 12 Benedicamus, and 132 villancicos. To that can be added: a treatise on harmony "Key to Modulation", and, rather curiously, a mathematical treatise on rates of exchange. He dies in Escurial on December 20, 1783.

Padre Antonio Soler (1729-1783) Sonate n° 84 en mi majeur