Role

:

Composer

Country

:

Italy

Birth

:

October 26, 1685 in Naples, Italy

Death

:

July 23, 1757 in Madrid, Spain

Period

:

Baroque

Genre

:

Keyboard

 

Domenico Scarlatti was an Italian composer and harpsichordist of the Baroque era. He was born on October 26, 1685, in Naples, Italy, to the famous composer Alessandro Scarlatti and his wife Antonia Anzalone. Domenico was the sixth of ten children, and his father recognized his musical talent at an early age. He began studying music with his father and quickly became proficient in keyboard playing and composition. In 1701, Domenico was appointed as the organist and composer at the Royal Chapel in Naples. He continued to study music with his father and also with the composer Francesco Gasparini. In 1705, he traveled to Venice to study with the composer and violinist Arcangelo Corelli. During this time, he also met and became friends with the composer George Frideric Handel. In 1709, Domenico moved to Rome, where he worked as a composer and harpsichordist for the exiled Queen of Poland, Maria Casimira. He also became a member of the Accademia degli Arcadi, a literary and musical society. In 1719, he moved to Lisbon, Portugal, where he was appointed as the music master to the Portuguese royal family. He remained in Portugal for nine years, during which time he composed many of his most famous works. Scarlatti's music is known for its virtuosity and technical brilliance. He was a master of the keyboard, and his compositions for harpsichord are considered some of the finest examples of Baroque keyboard music. His music is characterized by its use of rapid, intricate figurations, unusual harmonies, and unexpected modulations. Scarlatti's most famous works are his keyboard sonatas, of which he composed over 550. These sonatas are short, one-movement pieces that showcase Scarlatti's virtuosity and technical skill. They are written in a variety of keys and modes and often feature unusual rhythmic patterns and harmonies. Many of Scarlatti's sonatas are named after dances, such as the minuet, gavotte, and sarabande. Scarlatti's other works include operas, cantatas, and chamber music. His operas, which were composed in the Italian style, were popular in their time but are rarely performed today. His cantatas, which were written for solo voice and continuo, are notable for their expressive melodies and emotional depth. His chamber music, which includes sonatas for violin and harpsichord, is characterized by its contrapuntal complexity and harmonic richness. Scarlatti's music was highly influential in his time and continues to be admired today. His keyboard sonatas, in particular, have been performed and recorded by many of the world's greatest pianists and harpsichordists. His music has also been used in films, television shows, and video games. Scarlatti died on July 23, 1757, in Madrid, Spain, where he had lived and worked for the last 28 years of his life. He was buried in the Church of Santa Maria in Montserrat. Scarlatti's legacy as a composer and keyboard virtuoso continues to be celebrated and admired by musicians and music lovers around the world.

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