The Complete Works, Volume I: Piano Book

Scarlatti's sonatas occupy a unique pedagogical space. They're far more musically substantial and harmonically adventurous than standard Baroque teaching pieces, yet they remain accessible to students ready to move beyond simplified early repertoire. This Longo edition collects the essential works in a single, practical volume, giving teachers a reliable resource for building student facility with hand independence, keyboard geography, and Baroque style without sacrificing musical integrity.

Scarlatti's keyboard world is restless and bright. These sonatas sparkle with rhythmic energy and unexpected harmonic turns, featuring hand crossings that create an almost conversational quality between the registers. There's a directness to the writing that feels modern in spirit, even centuries later; it's virtuosic without being Romantic, intellectual without being austere.

This collection serves advanced intermediate and advanced pianists studying Baroque style and keyboard technique. Teachers use it to introduce students to an important historical figure beyond the Bach and Handel canon, and it's invaluable for students preparing for competitions or higher-level study.

• Approach hand crossings as a natural part of the harpsichord's design rather than as technical obstacles; let the independence flow from that architectural logic rather than fighting it.
• Shape rapid scalar passages by thinking in larger harmonic gestures rather than note-by-note; this prevents the music from becoming mere finger work.
• Pay attention to the figured bass implications in the harmony; Scarlatti often writes with voice-leading clarity that rewards thoughtful pedaling on the modern piano.

Pair these works in a recital context with other Baroque keyboard repertoire to show stylistic continuity and contrast, or feature individual sonatas as encores. They also work well as supplementary study material in technique-focused lessons, building hand independence and keyboard confidence alongside more standard pedagogical pieces.

• Hand independence and coordination through hand crossings
• Navigation of wider keyboard range and register shifts
• Baroque articulation and style conventions
• Reading and interpreting figured bass harmony
• Rapid scalar and arpeggiated passage work with control