Scarlatti Masterpieces for Solo Piano: 47 Works (Dover Classical Piano Music)

two stars because it is Scarlatti, not more, because it is a bad edition, really bad, not the kind for which I usually like Dover, heavily edited, more slurs, articulation and dynamic mars, fingerings etc. than original notes.At second look, I see it's edited by Alessandro Longo, the famous, for Ricordi, in Milan, 1906-1908. Well, it's a hundred years and more ago, times change, I think I have been too harsh. It sure is of historical value. I imagine that then, with only very rare audio recording technology, it must have been for most players, barely emerging from the fogs and volcanoes of the late Romantic period, to have a specialist's guidance for how Scarlatti might be approached.So I add two stars to my original two, in honor of the great forefathers of the 20th century's pioneers of the revival of earlier music.However it's more like lessons in Scarlatti than like the texts, so it really depends on your preference and personal needs.Alessandro Longo (31 December 1864 - 3 November 1945) was an Italian composer and musicologist.from WikiLongo was born in Amantea. After studying at the Naples Conservatory under Beniamino Cesi (and composition under Paolo Serrao), he began teaching piano at his alma mater in 1887, deputizing for Cesi as pianoforte professor, and succeeded him in 1897. As a pianist, Longo often played in chamber ensemble with the Ferni Quartet, and with the Quartetto Napoletano (with Cantani, Parmiciano, Scarano and Viterbini). He founded various musical institutions in Naples, and gained a high reputation as a concert pianist. In 1914 he began editing the review L'Arte Pianistica.[1] He became Director of the Naples Conservatory in 1944, and died in Naples the following year, aged 80.Today, Longo is mainly remembered for compiling an almost comprehensive catalogue of the keyboard works of Domenico Scarlatti. For many years, Scarlatti's keyboard sonatas were conventionally identified by their Longo numbers, but these were later superseded by those found in Ralph Kirkpatrick's catalogue. Longo's Catalogue originated in his landmark full publication of the works of Scarlatti in 11 volumes[2] and implied particular groupings of the sonatas, the chronology of which was later completely revised and differently grouped in Kirkpatrick's 1953 study of the composer.[3] Longo also edited works by Domenico Gallo.[4]His compositions include, among others, two works for piano four-hands, a serenade and a suite;[5] suites for piano with bassoon[6] with oboe,[7] with flute[7] and with clarinet.[7][8]

Yes, the paper is rather thin, and the cover is ratchet. With that being said, the notes are all there and in this volume, one of intelligence shall recognize immediately that these are some of Scarlatti's best sonatas put into one album. If one is a thorough musician, they shall observe sooner than later, that the editor has incorporated dynamics and treatments of rhythms from the legendary, unsurpassed, definitive and celebrated Scarlatti recordings by the late Vladimir Horowitz.Music is not appreciated because it sits looking appetizing on a piano's music stand. Music is appreciated when it sounds off appropriately and properly in accorded circumstances. That means worry about if all the notes are there so you can sound off whatever you see. This edition is extremely cheap and when I sounded off the music in sight, I immediately felt like a winner. A good purchase you will always know, for you will walk away feeling like a champion.Juston Bourgie

This is a nice edition, though it contains all the editorial bits from Longo (the dynamic markings and the pedal markings go a little too far if you are going for a historically informed harpsichord-ish performance). The collection of pieces, though, is wonderful. If you like baroque music but don't have much of a repertoire, this is a great addition to your library. And Scarlatti makes a wonderful break from all Bach all the time. Some require more work than others, having lots of jumping the left hand back and forth or a lot of contrapuntal action, while others can be worked up fairly quickly if you're in a pinch and just need a nice baroque piece to play.As with other Dover "lay-flat" editions, it does lay fairly flat eventually, but you will have to work with it for a good while before that happens.

It is amusing to read the forward note in this edition which is nearly apologetic for leaving all the early 20th century Longo pianistic markings in place (to save on costs!) But there is a ton of fingering included throughout which is a nice if you don't want to devise all your own. The 47 sonatas include most of the ones that a lot of us would be wanting to play.

Fingerings and dynamics are great although these are foreign to Scarlatti. In terms of accuracy, Longo sometimes adds or omits certain notes that are from the original. But in general it is ok. It is a performance edition. What do you expect?

It doesn't come with any kind of fingering, making playing these pieces a bit harder for the less knowledgable of us. That aside the good is good quality and the editions are quite good.

Had the book in three days. I'm starting to learn some Scarlatti...I'm no Horowitz but I mainly got this book for Sonata in B minor.

This music book had the one tune I just had to learn! I am an amateur but I do like having a number of volumes of music by different composers in my collection.

buona selezione di sonate revisionate da Longo. Mancano alcune celebrità come il K 1 e il K 141 (toccata) ma è difficile accontentare tutti tra le 555 sonate.

単調と長調の曲が約半々で登場します。短いものは１ページで終わり、長い曲でも５Pの作品集のため、次から次へと弾き勧められる為飽きません。レベルもやさしめの中級のため、ピアノをある程度弾いた経験がある人であれば、力まずに初見で弾けます。４７曲も違う表情の作品が楽しめます。スカルラッティというお名前だけ聞いたことがあるだけで、曲も聴いたことがありませんでした。でもだからこそどんな作品を生み出した人か、気になって興味津々で弾いています。気分にもよりますが、私は長調の曲風が好きなので、この作品集でも、長調の作品の方が好きです。決して大胆でダイナミックな曲風ではありませんが、どの曲も芯が通っていて上品な雰囲気で、随所に耳に残る素敵なメロディーが散りばめられています。