MusicCoach difficulty
58/100
Intermediate
Level of the complete work
We have no level specific to this movement. The figure above is that of the complete work: within a cycle, movements often differ widely in demand.
Estimated skills
Theory
Harmonic analysis
1
Theory
Knowledge of forms
1
Reading
Bass clef reading
1
Ornaments
Baroque ornaments
1
Style
Baroque style
1
Tone
Touch control
1
Technique
Hand independence
1
Technique
Legato
1
What to play next?
Each suggestion combines difficulty gap, risk, confidence and skill overlap. The first two cards in each column are the most useful pedagogically.
Gentle step
The safest next step.
Gentle
Sonata in G minor, K.88, L.36
Domenico Scarlatti
close skills
low risk
to confirm
A short step up, staying in Intermediate (around grade 6 ABRSM/RCM). The skill that will carry the work: Connaissance des formes and Ornements baroque — understand the form and the harmony before memorising, or memory collapses the moment you play for someone.
Gentle
Fugue no. 12 en Fa Mineur, BWV.881
Johann Sebastian Bach
close skills
low risk
to confirm
A short step up, staying in Intermediate (around grade 6 ABRSM/RCM). New compared with the previous piece: Polyphonie à trois voix ou plus and Analyse harmonique — practise it slowly and hands separately before any attempt at tempo: that is where tension builds up.
Balanced step
A genuine step up, without a jolt.
Balanced
Sonata in C major, K.170, L.303
Domenico Scarlatti
close skills
moderate risk
to confirm
A real step up, staying in Intermediate (around grade 6 ABRSM/RCM). The skill that will carry the work: Connaissance des formes and Style baroque — understand the form and the harmony before memorising, or memory collapses the moment you play for someone.
Balanced
Harpsichord Sonata in A minor, BWV.967
Johann Sebastian Bach
close skills
moderate risk
to confirm
A real step up, staying in Intermediate (around grade 6 ABRSM/RCM). The skill that will carry the work: Connaissance des formes and Style baroque — understand the form and the harmony before memorising, or memory collapses the moment you play for someone.
Ambitious challenge
A useful leap with guided practice.
Challenge
Sonata in A minor, K.54, L.241
Domenico Scarlatti
close skills
high risk
to confirm
An ambitious leap while staying in Intermediate (around grade 7 ABRSM/RCM) — only worth starting if the practice time is really there. The skill that will carry the work: Connaissance des formes and Style baroque — understand the form and the harmony before memorising, or memory collapses the moment you play for someone.
Challenge
Harpsichord Sonata in C major, BWV.966
Johann Sebastian Bach
close skills
high risk
to confirm
An ambitious leap while staying in Intermediate (around grade 7 ABRSM/RCM) — only worth starting if the practice time is really there. The skill that will carry the work: Connaissance des formes and Style baroque — understand the form and the harmony before memorising, or memory collapses the moment you play for someone.
Same level
Same level
Ordre 23 in F
François Couperin
partial transfer
low risk
to confirm
Equivalent demands, still Intermediate (around grade 5 ABRSM/RCM): what changes is the ground. The skill that will carry the work: Style baroque and Ornements baroque — the notes are not enough: articulation and ornaments follow performance conventions best checked in an urtext edition.
Same level
Suite in A major, BWV.832
Johann Sebastian Bach
close skills
low risk
to confirm
Equivalent demands, right at the edge of Elementary (around grade 5 ABRSM/RCM): different ground, same level. What changes is the skill in play: Polyphonie à deux voix and Style baroque — practise it slowly and hands separately before any attempt at tempo: that is where tension builds up.
Same level
Capriccio on the Departing of his Most Beloved Brother in B flat major, BWV.992
Johann Sebastian Bach
close skills
low risk
to confirm
Equivalent demands, right at the edge of Elementary (around grade 5 ABRSM/RCM): different ground, same level. What changes is the skill in play: Croisements de mains and Style baroque — practise it slowly and hands separately before any attempt at tempo: that is where tension builds up.
This second-movement Minuet unfolds a dance-like, measured character with regular phrases and rhythmic accents that call for poise and clarity rather than showy virtuosity. You will need to focus on Ornaments (3.1/5) by executing small embellishments cleanly and integrating them into the flow, and on Bass-clef reading (Lecture clé de fa, 3.1/5) to keep the bass line clear and well-balanced between the hands; concretely that means light, precise attacks for the ornaments and careful thumb placement and finger independence for the bass line. The piece belongs to the Baroque period and is one of the many keyboard sonatas in Scarlatti’s output, where dance forms frequently appear within short, expressive movements.