Collected Keyboard Works: Smaller Works, Book 1: Other Keyboard, Collections, Book

Busoni's editorial hand makes these five Bach works accessible to modern pianists without sacrificing their compositional integrity. The collection spans multiple keyboard genres (fantasia and fugue, dance forms, variation sets), offering variety within a manageable scope for students preparing a recital or building their Baroque keyboard vocabulary.

These five works showcase Bach's gift for compact formal statements. The Fantasia and Fugue grips with intellectual intensity; the Aria variata and Sarabande con Partite sparkle through layers of ornamentation and variation; the Andante and Scherzo offer moments of intimate expression and dance-like buoyancy. Together, they create a miniature survey of Baroque keyboard sensibility.

Advanced intermediate and early advanced pianists (or harpsichordists) seeking substantial Baroque keyboard repertoire that extends beyond the Well-Tempered Clavier. This collection suits students preparing for competitions, recitals, or comprehensive keyboard studies in a conservatory setting.

• Approach the Fantasia and Fugue in D minor as two distinct formal statements; allow the improvisatory character of the fantasia breathing room before the fugue's structural clarity takes hold.
• In the variations (Aria variata and Sarabande con Partite), maintain consistency in the underlying harmonic progression while differentiating each variation through articulation and touch; avoid treating each variation as a separate piece.
• Use Busoni's editorial markings as a starting point for voicing and pedaling rather than as fixed law; experiment with registration choices that honor Baroque textures while embracing the piano's capabilities.
• Balance ornamentation with clarity in works like the Andante and Scherzo; these smaller forms benefit from articulate playing that reveals inner voices without sacrificing lyrical singing quality.

Program individual pieces from this collection as standalone recital items, or group them thematically (variations together, dance forms together) to create a focused Baroque keyboard set within a larger concert. This collection also works well as supplementary repertoire alongside Bach's larger keyboard cycles, providing students with smaller-scale works suitable for performance or examination.

• Reading figured bass and Busoni's editorial indications
• Voice leading clarity in contrapuntal writing
• Articulation and rhythmic precision in Baroque keyboard idioms
• Interpretive choices regarding ornamentation and phrasing
• Understanding of Baroque dance forms and variation technique
• Adapting Baroque keyboard music for modern piano performance