Looking for Tips on Scarlatti's Sonata in D Minor

I think the lively nature of the piece allows for a lot of freedom in interpretation! What about tempos? Is anyone experimenting with faster or slower sections?

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I’m with you, robert05! I sometimes feel like a faster tempo gives the piece a more playful character. Just be careful not to lose the clarity in the fast passages!

Are there specific recordings that have inspired your interpretations? I personally love the way Lang Lang plays it; he makes it feel so vibrant!

Great choice! I also admire how Christian Zacharias blends elegance and energy in his rendition. It makes me reconsider my phrasing.

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I wonder how our own emotions influence the way we play. Sometimes, I can hear my mood reflected in how I express the piece. It’s so subjective!

That’s true! Maybe it’s also why some students struggle to play it well— if they don’t connect emotionally, it can come off flat.

And on that note, I think it’s important to find a balance between personal expression and respecting the piece. After all, Scarlatti had a vision!

I agree, nlopez. But sometimes, I feel like strict adherence can stifle creativity. A little rebellion can lead to fresh interpretations!

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Speaking of rebellion, I tried playing it upside down once! It didn’t end well, but it was hilarious! Anyone else had a musical mishap?

Haha, brownsean! That’s a bold move! I once played a whole section with the wrong hand. Made my teacher laugh but destroyed my confidence!

This has been such a delightful discussion! I appreciate all the insights. It’s refreshing to see how varied our approaches can be. Let’s keep sharing!

I’m a huge fan of Scarlatti’s work! For the Sonata in D Minor, I recommend checking out the edition by Alfred Cortot. He has some insightful fingerings and interpretations.

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Thanks for the tip! I’ll look it up. Anyone have recommendations for online tutorials?

You can find great tutorials on YouTube! I particularly like the ones by PianoTV. They break down the piece nicely if you’re trying to learn it.

Yeah, I’ve seen those! They made learning my Bach pieces a breeze too. I bet Scarlatti will be the same.

Has anyone checked out the Schirmer edition? It’s a classic and has some good annotations for interpreting the piece.

I have it! It’s super helpful, although I always argue with its fingering suggestions. What do you think?

Totally agree! Some of the fingerings feel uncomfortable, but maybe that’s just my small hands talking. A bit of adjustment might be needed.

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I recently stumbled upon a recording by Igor Levit. His interpretation is both lively and reflective, really captures the spirit of Scarlatti.

That sounds interesting! I’ll have to give it a listen. Any other recordings worth checking out?