Well-known English composers wrote these four charming sonatinas during the late 1700s and early 1800s, when music was changing from the Baroque to Classical style. Each sonatina consists of two or three short movements, with every movement presenting a complete although simple work, with much delightful contrast. The editor has included brief biographical information on the featured composers, Attwood, Latour, Berg and Camidge, and has provided helpful performance notes.

These short, pleasing pieces assist early-intermediate pianists in developing overall musicianship and technique. The collection contains sonatas, minuets, an "Aria" and a "Pastoral" written in binary form. Halford provides suggestions for style and interpretation in a foreword, and includes fingering, phrasing and notated ornaments in light print within each composition. This is an important volume for students new to Scarlatti's brilliant and lyrical keyboard styles.

Mastery of these pieces will give students valuable insight into the style and performance of the music of the Classical period, specifically that of Clementi. Editorial suggestions are in light print to clearly distinguish them from Clementi' indications and include notations for fingering, pedaling and metronome use.

Originally compiled and edited by Louis Kí_hler, this edition contains some of the most popular keyboard sonatinas, rondos and other works (including symphonic transcriptions) of Beethoven, Clementi, Haydn, Kuhlau and Mozart, among others. In clarifying this edition, editor Allan Small has removed impractical fingerings and unnecessary accidentals found in other editions.

Haydn was primarily responsible for shaping the Classical style of performance. During the 18th century, when composers focused mainly on the sonata, quartet and symphony, Haydn's slow-maturing genius assimilated and consolidated the trends into an individual style that was both inspired and disciplined. These eight pieces are among Haydn's easiest works and are presented in their unsimplified, original form. Based on careful study, the editorial markings are clearly distinguished from the composer's.

Such familiar works as Beethoven's "Sonatina in G" and Clementi's "Sonatina in C," Op. 36, No. 1 are balanced by lesser-known sonatinas of Latour, Wanhal, Halsinger and Pleyel. Palmer's helpful edition includes a brief introduction to sonatina form and a short biography of each composer. An excellent choice for early-intermediate to intermediate piano students.