Domenico Scarlatti (1685-1757) is a real treasure. His music is bite-sized, sounds great on piano or harpsichord, and features the lightness of the Italian Baroque, forays into Classical style, and some Spanish flair from his music master positions in Seville and Madrid. A single three- or four-minute Scarlatti sonata can traverse a wide range of... Continue Reading →
#2: Schubert - Sonata in B-flat Major, D. 960 (1828) It’s probably worth mentioning that this piece is one of my all-time favorites. I started playing it in high school, polished it in college, and continue to play through it (especially the second movement) when I need a good pianistic catharsis. Another thing worth mentioning:... Continue Reading →
I’ve always enjoyed making lists ranking my favorites in various categories. In my early years of classical listening, it was a nice way to review what I had encountered and see if my view of certain pieces had changed. But when making those lists, I never had to justify the reasons for my choices. So... Continue Reading →
Hal Leonard Classical Piano Blog 