Scarlatti: An Introduction to His Keyboard Works: Piano Book

This collection strips away the assumption that Scarlatti requires advanced technique, presenting nineteen works that capture his wit, elegance, and harmonic surprises without the dramatic hand crossings and virtuosity of his most famous sonatas. The editorial apparatus here is particularly strong: the guidance on interpretation and the attention to figured bass demystify period conventions and invite students into the composer's actual thinking, rather than asking them to simply execute notes on a page.

Scarlatti's keyboard writing has a conversational, almost improvisational quality that keeps both player and listener alert. These pieces sparkle with unexpected harmonic colors, playful rhythmic figures, and moments of tenderness, all delivered in a musical language that feels both historically rooted and immediately engaging.

This book serves late intermediate pianists who are ready to engage with Baroque keyboard literature but may not yet have the facility for the most technically demanding Scarlatti sonatas. It also works well for students preparing for festival or competition play, since these pieces offer sophistication and genuine musical interest at an accessible level.

• Listen closely to the figured bass realization provided in this edition; understanding the harmonic foundation will clarify voicing and help you shape phrases with stronger architectural awareness rather than relying on pedal or dynamic contrast alone.
• Approach rhythmic precision as a musical tool, not just mechanical accuracy. Scarlatti's figuration often relies on crisp articulation and clear rhythmic placement to create drive and character.
• Experiment with the editorial suggestions for ornamentation and tempo modification. Baroque style is not inflexible, and this collection invites you to understand the reasoning behind interpretive choices rather than treating them as rules.
• Pay attention to hand position and finger independence when executing passages with repeated notes or rapid scalar movement. Scarlatti's keyboard writing often exposes and develops these technical foundations.

Pair these works with other Baroque keyboard pieces to demonstrate the range of compositional approaches within the era, or program a Scarlatti sonata alongside a simple aria or dance to show the breadth of keyboard music available at the intermediate level. These pieces also serve students well in recital or festival contexts where a performer needs music that demonstrates musical maturity without requiring professional-level technical demands.

• Baroque ornamentation and articulation
• Hand independence and finger agility
• Reading and interpreting figured bass notation
• Harmonic analysis and voice leading awareness
• Stylistically informed interpretation of period conventions
• Clarity and precision in scalar and repeated-note figurations