How to say the name:
‘Scarlatti’ is said like Scar-lat-tee. ‘Domenico’ is siad like ‘Dom-e-knee-co’.
Born:
26th October 1685 in Naples, Italy.
Died:
23rd July 1757 in Madrid, Spain.
Buried:
Church of San Norberto in Naples.
Type of Music:
Strictly speaking, Scarlatti’s music is classical music from the baroque period. However, his music is often like that of the classical period.
His best pieces:
- Many, many sonatas for the harpsichord! (See below for some video examples.)
Some interesting facts:
- His father, Alessandro Scarlatti, is also a fairly well-known composer.
- He was one of the main composers to create the classical period.
- He wrote over 500 sonatas for the harpsichord! In fact, Scarlatti did much to invent the idea of the ‘sonata’ the became very popular with later composers.
Here is a video of a sonata by Scarlatti for the harpsichord. (I can’t believe the musician is standing up to play this!!)
Scarlatti’s Sonata K. 517 for the harpsichord
And here is a video of another sonata for the harpsichord. However this time it is played on a modern piano (such pianos didn’t exist in Scarlatti’s day).
Scarlatti’s Sonata K. 20 played on a modern piano.
Picture credits:
- Domenico Scarlatti. This is a painting by Domingo Antonio Velasco from 1738. The image is in the public domain. Click here for the source of this image, along with the relevant copyright information.
Video credits:
- Harpsichord Performance: Comparone Plays Scarlatti. Harpsichordist Elaine plays Sonata in D minor, K. 517 by Domenico Scarlatti on her 2-manual harpsichord built in 1968 by William Dowd. For more information: www.harpsichord.org; www.lyrichord.com.
- Pogorelich Plays Scarlatti. Scarlatti – Sonata K20.