Domenico Scarlatti’s keyboard sonatas are a collection of 555 individual, mostly single-movement Baroque works composed primarily for the harpsichord (and early piano/fortepiano) for the Spanish court. Known for their immense technical innovation, they feature daring harmonies, Spanish dance rhythms, and virtuoso techniques, bridging the Baroque and Classical eras.
- Composition & Style: Intended for the Spanish royal family, the sonatas often incorporate influences from Iberian folk music and the Spanish guitar.
- Structure: Most are single-movement, two-section (binary form) pieces. At least 388 were composed in pairs, often in the same key.
- Technical Innovation: They are known for pushing the limits of keyboard technique, including rapid hand-crossing, dissonant, and chromatic harmonies.
- Performance: While originally written for the harpsichord, they are widely performed today on the piano.
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