Giuseppe Domenico Scarlatti
Composer and Keyboardist
Baroque Period
Born: 26 October 1685
Naples, Kingdom of Naples
Died: 23 July 1757
Madrid, Spain
A Sliver About Scarlatti
Domenico Scarlatti was an Italian composer of a wide variety of music but today he is most notable for his 555 keyboard sonatas. The young Scarlatti began taking music lessons with his father Alessandro Scarlatti a composer and teacher most notable for his mastery of the operatic form. Scarlatti spent much of his life working with Portuguese and Spanish royalty as both a teacher and performer. Scarlatti spent much of his life traveling and direct his works, even making it all the way to London to direct one of his Operas. Although Scarlatti was a composer and performer at the same time as Bach, his Neapolitan heritage and culture greatly influence his writing. Scarlatti's music often mimics guitar strumming and makes use of modes and irregular phrase lengths which sometimes can make the music feel highly improvisatory. Since there are so many sonatas to choose from I'm sure you can find a piece that suits your liking!
Time Line
26 October 1685
1701
1709
1715-1719
1719
1719-1733
1733
23 July 1757
Guiseppe Domenico Scarlatti is born in Naples, the sixth of ten children! His father Alessandro Scarlatti was already a prominent composer and is one of the most important representatives of Neapolitan Opera.
Scarlatti is hired as organist and composer at the Royal Chapel in Naples
Scarlatti arrives in Rome. There is a story that during Scarlatti's time in Rome he met George Frederic Handel and the two played for each other in a trial of skill. Although Handel was deemed the superior Organist, Scarlatti was given much praise for his harpsichord skills.
Scarlatti is appointed Maestro di Cappella at St. Peter's Basilica.
Scarlatti travels to London to direct his opera Narciso at the King's Theatre.
During this time Scarlatti moves quite frequently between Lisbon, Madrid, Rome, and Seville. He would marry Maria Caterina Gentili and have 6 children with her.
Scarlatti settles in Madrid. Here he will write most of his 555 keyboard sonatas.
Scarlatti passes away at the age of 71.
Listen
Want to listen to some Scarlatti? Check out some recordings of some of his most famous keyboard worksMaybe if you're a fan of one of these pieces you could start learning it!
