Selected Sonatas, Volume I: Piano Book

These eight sonatas represent some of Scarlatti's most frequently performed works, and this edition gives you newly engraved scores with written-out ornaments that remove guesswork for students still learning to navigate Baroque ornamentation. At this price point, you can put copies in the hands of multiple students without hesitation.

Scarlatti's sonatas sparkle with keyboard brilliance and rhythmic vitality. You'll encounter moments of pure technical display alongside sudden harmonic surprises that catch you off guard, creating music that feels both intimate and virtuosic. There's an almost playful quality to much of his writing, as if the composer is delighting in what the keyboard can do.

This collection serves intermediate to advanced pianists who are ready to explore the bridge between Baroque and Classical keyboard writing. It works equally well for private studio instruction and group piano study, giving students access to repertoire that deepens their understanding of keyboard technique and Baroque performance practice.

• Study the written-out ornaments carefully before adding interpretation. They show you exactly what embellishment Scarlatti intended, giving students a clear foundation before they experiment with stylistic choices.
• Approach hand crossings and rapid scalar passages with clarity and independence between the hands. These are signature Scarlatti gestures and should sparkle without sounding rushed.
• Use the Sonata in C Major as your entry point if students are new to Scarlatti. Its familiar key and moderate technical demands make it an ideal introduction to his keyboard style.
• Balance the need for keyboard agility with the harmonic interest beneath the surface. These are not mere etudes; the unexpected chord progressions and tonal shifts deserve thoughtful phrasing.

Scarlatti sonatas shine in student recitals and competitions, where they showcase both technical command and interpretive maturity. Program one alongside Bach and Beethoven to illustrate the evolution of keyboard music, or pair multiple Scarlatti sonatas on a single program to build a compelling thematic arc. These works also serve well as stepping stones for students preparing to tackle Classical sonatas by Mozart or Clementi.

• Reading and interpreting written-out Baroque ornaments
• Hand independence and rapid passagework
• Keyboard agility and scalar clarity
• Harmonic awareness and unexpected tonal shifts
• Baroque articulation and phrasing conventions
• Recognizing stylistic bridges between Baroque and Classical periods