Scarlatti: Sixty Sonatas, Volume II

This collection represents Scarlatti at his most inventive, offering students and teachers a curated selection of 60 sonatas that showcase the full range of his keyboard writing. The Kalmus Edition provides a reliable, carefully edited text that lets pianists engage directly with music of genuine substance, whether building repertoire or exploring the Baroque sonata on a deeper level.

These sonatas pulse with theatrical energy and improvisational flair. You'll encounter sparkling passagework that demands rhythmic precision, sudden harmonic turns that catch you off guard, and moments of unexpected intimacy amid the virtuosity. The writing feels both intellectually engaging and physically satisfying at the keyboard.

This volume serves intermediate to advanced pianists who have moved beyond elementary repertoire and want to explore Baroque keyboard music with genuine artistic weight. Teachers will find it essential for students preparing for competitions, auditions, or recitals, as well as for those seeking a deeper understanding of pre-Classical keyboard writing.

• Approach hand crossing and dramatic register shifts with physical confidence rather than caution; Scarlatti wrote these textures as integral to the music's character, not as technical obstacles to minimize.
• Shape the running passagework through gentle dynamic shaping and subtle articulation rather than aggressive attack; clarity emerges from control and phrase direction, not force.
• Honor the ornaments (trills, mordents, turns) as structural elements that define harmony and phrasing, not as surface decoration added after learning the basic notes.
• Exploit the harmonic boldness of sudden key shifts and unexpected chromatic movement; these moments reflect Scarlatti's experimental approach and deserve to be heard distinctly.

Feature a single Scarlatti sonata on a recital program to anchor a Baroque segment, or program two contrasting sonatas from this collection to demonstrate the range within his output. This volume also works well as a study resource throughout a season, allowing students to develop facility and interpretive skills across multiple works rather than focusing on a single piece.

• Hand independence and crossing in rapid passage work
• Understanding of Baroque ornamentation and its structural role
• Navigation of unexpected harmonic progressions and key relationships
• Baroque phrasing and articulation in keyboard music
• Sight-reading fluency across multiple sonata forms
• Finger dexterity and control in wide-ranging registers