Toccate e partite d'intavolatura, Libro I

Frescobaldi's first book of toccatas and partitas, first published in Rome in 1615 and substantially revised and expanded in the definitive 1637 edition (F 2.01–2.37). The collection contains twelve toccatas in idiomatic harpsichord intavolatura, four sets of partite (variation sets) on the popular airs Romanesca, Monica, Ruggiero, and La Frescobalda, and — in the 1637 Aggiunta — the monumental Cento partite sopra passacaglio and a Capriccio sopra la pastorale. The toccatas alternate between passages of improvisatory figuration (passaggi) and meditative, harmonically dense affetti sections, introducing Frescobaldi's innovation of contrasting tempo within a single work. The preface (Avvertimenti) gives detailed instructions on performance practice. Freely available on IMSLP.