Domenico Scarlatti´s Essercizi per Gravicembali: Didactic Value and the Mystery of the Title

Abstract

This work is dedicated to Domenico Scarlatti’s Essercizi per gravicembali published in London in 1738. It explores the term “essercizi”, or “exercise” in English, through an excursus in the similar collections and pieces throughout Europe: the English Lessons, the German Clavier-Übungen, the Italian Essercizi and the French Leçons. While in some cases the term is employed in generic titles for non didactic collections of music, in others it is used in sacred music. Some of the dictionaries also provide us with the definition of spiritual exercise. The second half of the work includes the analysis of 12 selected sonatas from the collection from a didactic point of view. Each of them imposes new technical challenges to the student and may be used by different ages and skill levels. Even though the collection was not printed as clearly didactic material, it can be and is widely used as such.