Description
Domenico Scarlatti is widely regarded as one of the great piano composers in music history, and is considered the first true piano virtuoso. This third volume of selected keyboard sonatas, like the previous two (HN 395 and 451), contains 24 sonatas from various periods of Scarlatti's creative life, showcasing the rich diversity of his work. The Italian composer, who spent much of his career at the Spanish court, triumphed over the heavy Baroque style with his distinctive themes, lyrical melodies, and dance-like movements. Scarlatti's one-movement sonatas feature a performance-technical element that is integral to their form. For the first time in piano music, interpreters must cross their hands and execute wide leaps. In the preface, renowned pianist Bengt Johnsson provides insights into Scarlatti's life and career, as well as the sources used for this edition. An added bonus is the reprint of a 1738 preface to an edition of 30 of Scarlatti's piano sonatas, providing absorbing reading for those seeking a deeper understanding of his pioneering piano works.
