Domenico Scarlatti (22 October 1685 – 23 July 1757) was an Italian composer of the Baroque era, primarily known for his extensive output of solo keyboard sonatas. He was born in Naples, the sixth child of composer Alessandro Scarlatti, and received his early musical training within his father's prominent musical household.
Education and Early Career
Scarlatti studied composition and harpsichord under his father's guidance and later pursued advanced studies with the renowned composer and teacher Francesco Gasparini. In 1709, he entered the service of the Portuguese royal court as a composer and teacher, a position he held until 1725, when he relocated to the Spanish court in Madrid at the invitation of King Philip V and his queen, Elisabeth Farnese.
Works and Style
Scarlatti composed over 550 keyboard sonatas, catalogued principally by the Koechel numbers (K. 1–K. 555). These sonatas, most written for harpsichord but also performed on piano, are characterized by virtuosic passages, inventive hand crossing, rapid repeated notes, and the incorporation of Spanish folk idioms, including guitar-like textures and dance rhythms such as the fandango and sarabande. While the majority of his sonatas are single-movement works, they exhibit a range of forms, including binary, ternary, and sonata‑allegro structures.
In addition to keyboard music, Scarlatti wrote operas (e.g., La Silvia), cantatas, and sacred works, though these compositions are less frequently performed today. His output reflects a synthesis of Italian Baroque tradition with Iberian influences acquired during his tenure in Spain and Portugal.
Influence and Legacy
Scarlatti’s keyboard sonatas had a profound impact on later composers, notably influencing the development of the Classical sonata form and the virtuosic piano literature of the 19th century. His works were rediscovered and championed in the 20th century by pianists such as Wanda Landowska and Ralph Kirkpatrick, whose recordings and scholarly editions contributed to the modern revival of Scarlatti’s music.
Later Life and Death
After the death of his patron Queen Elisabeth Farnese in 1746, Scarlatti retired from court service and spent his remaining years in Madrid. He died on 23 July 1757 at the age of 71 and was interred in the church of San Lorenzo de la Hermandad.
Selected Recordings and Editions
Prominent modern editions of Scarlatti’s sonatas include the complete works edited by Ralph Kirkpatrick (K. 1–K. 555) and the more recent critical edition by Alessandro Longhi (K. 1–K. 555) for the Italian National Music Library. Recordings by artists such as Vladimir Horowitz, Mitsuko Uchida, and Angela Hewitt have contributed to the continued popularity of his keyboard repertoire.