Domenico Scarlatti

Domenico Scarlatti (October 26, 1685 – July 23, 1757) was an Italian composer of the Baroque era. He was extremely influential in the development of keyboard music, especially in Spain, Portugal and England, through his highly idiosyncratic and individual style.

Life and career

Domenico Scarlatti was born in Naples, Italy, the sixth of ten children. Most likely he first studied under his father, the composer and teacher Alessandro Scarlatti; other composers who may have been his early teachers include Gaetano Greco, Francesco Gasparini, and Bernardo Pasquini, all of whom seem to have influenced his musical style.

Related Topics:
Naples - Alessandro Scarlatti - Gaetano Greco - Francesco Gasparini - Bernardo Pasquini

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

He became a composer and organist at the royal chapel in Naples in 1701, and in 1704, he revised Carlo Francesco Pollarolo's opera Irene for performance at Naples. Soon after this his father sent him to Venice, but the four years there are a blank in the record. In 1709 he went to Rome in the service of the exiled Polish queen Maria Casimira; while in Rome he met Thomas Roseingrave who would later lead the enthusiastic reception of the composer's sonatas in London. Domenico was already a harpsichord-player of eminence, and there is a story that at a trial of skill with George Friderich Handel at the palace of Cardinal Ottoboni in Rome he was adjudged perhaps superior to Handel on that instrument, although inferior on the organ. Later in life, he was known to cross himself in veneration, when speaking of Handel's skill.

Related Topics:
1701 - 1704 - Carlo Francesco Pollarolo - Venice - 1709 - Rome - Maria Casimira - Thomas Roseingrave - Sonatas - Harpsichord - George Friderich Handel - Organ

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Also while in Rome, Scarlatti composed several operas for Queen Casimira's private theatre. He was maestro di cappella at St Peter's from 1715 to 1719, and in the latter year came to London to direct his opera Narciso at the King's Theatre.

Related Topics:
Opera - 1715 - 1719 - London - King's Theatre

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 1720 or 1721 he went to Lisbon, where he taught music to the princess Maria Magdalena Barbara. He was at Naples again in 1725 and during a visit to Rome in 1728 he married Maria Caterina Gentili. In 1729 he went to Madrid as music master to the princess, who had married into the Spanish royal house. Maria Barbara became Queen of Spain and he remained in Spain for some twenty-five years and had five children there. After the death of his wife in 1742 he married a Spaniard, Anastasia Maxarti Ximenes. During his time in Madrid Scarlatti composed over five hundred keyboard sonatas. It is for these works that he is best remembered today.

Related Topics:
1720 - 1721 - Lisbon - Maria Magdalena Barbara - 1725 - 1729 - Keyboard

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Domenico Scarlatti died in Madrid, aged 71.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

His residence on Calle Leganitos is designated with a historical plaque, and his descendants still live in Madrid today.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~