Domenico (do-MEN-ih-koh) Scarlatti

Born October 26, 1685 in Naples, Italy

Died July 23, 1757

Nationality: Italian

Period/Style: Baroque

About the composer:

Domenico was the son of another famous composer, Alessandro Scarlatti.  Domenico’s first and favorite instrument was the harpsichord. He was a fine player, probably the best at that time.  He became famous as a composer, too, and was often employed by Royalty, not only in his homeland but also in Portugal and Spain. In fact, after his first wife died he married a Spanish woman and lived in Madrid for many years.  While he was there he wrote over 500 keyboard sonatas. 

About the music:

These sonatas, many of which were written while Scarlatti was in Spain, combine his own Italian heritage with some of the flavors of other countries, including Portugal and Spain. There is a definite Spanish flair to them. They are technically demanding, and very colorful. 

Suggested activity:

Look up information about harpsichords on the internet. Find pictures, descriptions, and perhaps even musical samples you can listen to.  Find out how it differs from a piano. The harpsichord was the most common keyboard instrument of the Baroque period.  The piano, as we know it today, wasn’t developed until later.