The Complete Works, Volume XI: Piano Book

This collection captures the inventive spirit that defines Scarlatti's legacy: compact structures packed with harmonic surprises, hand-crossing passages, rapid scalar figures, and the kind of pianistic flair that sounds contemporary even after three centuries. Pianists at intermediate and advanced levels gain direct access to music that shaped keyboard writing itself, with each sonata offering both historical grounding and genuine performance satisfaction.

Scarlatti's music combines courtly elegance with surprising keyboard boldness. You encounter moments of crystalline counterpoint alongside rapid hand-crossing that demands agility, ornamentation that dances across register changes, and harmonic twists that feel modern despite their age.

Advanced pianists exploring Baroque keyboard literature and teachers building comprehensive curricula that move beyond Bach and Händel. This edition serves students preparing for competitions, recitals, or comprehensive exams that require historical breadth.

• Pay attention to articulation and terraced dynamics typical of harpsichord writing. The lack of dynamic markings is intentional; shape phrases through note length, rhythmic clarity, and registration awareness rather than relying on the sustain pedal.
• Practice hand-crossing passages deliberately and at slow tempos. Scarlatti's technical demands serve the musical line, not mere display, so focus on seamless execution that preserves phrasing.
• Differentiate between movements and sonatas by tempo. Scarlatti's binary structures often pair contrasting speeds, so vary your approach rather than applying a uniform energy level across the entire collection.

Scarlatti sonatas work well as contrasting recital openers or interludes between Romantic or contemporary works. Pairing selections from this collection with Bach or later Classical sonatas traces the evolution of keyboard technique and form across a single program.

• Baroque keyboard ornamentation and trills
• Hand-crossing technique and coordination
• Understanding binary form and tonal architecture
• Reading figured bass implications and harpsichord idioms
• Rhythmic clarity and articulation without dynamic variation