About Sonatas K. 1 - K. 30

Among Scarlatti's keyboard sonatas, K. 1 to 30, numbered according to their generally estimated composition dates by Kirkpatrick, were published as Essercizi per Gravicembalo and dedicated to King João V of Portugal in return for being granted a knighthood. (This collection is generally translated as Exercises for Harpsichord, and while Scarlatti's works for keyboard instruments are primarily presumed to be for harpsichord, the current state of research indicates that it is not entirely clear whether other keyboard instruments were completely out of consideration.) This was the only collection published by the composer himself during his lifetime, and its preface holds value as an authentic documentary source by the composer himself.

The preface suggests that the collection aims at the cultivation of performance technique, leading to the inference that it was written for the practical purpose of daily practice for Maria Barbara, whom he served as a music teacher. Regarding the composition date, many researchers argue for an early composition date, viewing the Essercizi as revisions of sonatas written considerably earlier, but no definitive conclusion has yet been reached.

The arrangement of all 30 pieces allows for progressive learning, with later works generally becoming longer and more difficult. The form is fundamentally binary. Furthermore, it is typical of Scarlatti's sonatas for the opening of a piece to feature brief imitation between both hands; in many cases, the imitative figure appears to have little direct relation to the main material of the rest of the piece.

The preface also contains remarks touching upon the overall musical content of the collection, but their interpretation has been repeatedly debated, partly due to the nature of the preface as a text prone to expressions of humility or conventional formality.

K. 24 Presto

The alternation between scales in both hands, which defy prediction of formal divisions, and regular phrase structures creates a sense of formal ingenuity for the listener. The sonic craftsmanship is also rich; for instance, in homophonic sections where the upper voice dominates the main melody, the chords in the lower voice supporting the melody become denser as the piece progresses, forming a striking contrast with the thin texture immediately following a cadence.