Attributed to Scarlatti, this piece showcases the virtuosic, dance-inspired style typical of his keyboard sonatas. It is distinctive for its rapid-fire ornamentation and dramatic harmonic shifts.
At Henle 6 this is an advanced piece that assumes fluent technique and rewards mature interpretation. The main demands: independent voices that must each sing on their own line; ornaments that need to sound effortless, not squeezed in; and fast passage work that stays light and even at tempo.
Beyond that, expect precise articulation — the difference between crisp and blurred is the piece.
The primary challenge is maintaining clarity and evenness in fast ornamentation while negotiating frequent hand-crossings.
Comparable difficulty and character — good candidates for what to learn next.
A level or two down with the same spirit — ideal if this piece is still out of reach.
Where this piece's skills lead: slightly harder works making similar technical demands.
Fandango del Sigr. Scarlate is rated Henle level 6 of 9 — advanced repertoire, roughly ABRSM grades 7–8. In the RCM system it corresponds to about level 9.
You should be comfortable at Henle level 6 — meaning you can already play level 5–6 pieces cleanly. Learning it one level early is possible as a stretch piece, but more than that usually leads to months of frustration.
A typical performance of Fandango del Sigr. Scarlate lasts about 4 minutes.
Fandango del Sigr. Scarlate is available as free public-domain sheet music on IMSLP — the score is linked directly from this page.
Pieces at a comparable difficulty and character include Keyboard Sonata in E major by Domenico Scarlatti, Keyboard Sonata in B minor by Domenico Scarlatti, Piano Sonata No. 8 'Pathétique' by Ludwig van Beethoven — see the full similar-pieces list on this page.