Domenico Scarlatti
MUSIC HISTORY
Keyboard sonatas, virtuosity and Iberian colour: Domenico Scarlatti's biography and style.
Source Jean Mislin · Musicologist, organist and choral conductor · teacher of Adeline Toniutti As part of Adeline Toniutti's research
Scarlatti biography: the essentials
Domenico Scarlatti (1685-1757) is the great master of the baroque keyboard sonata. Son of Alessandro Scarlatti, trained in Naples then active in Rome, he settled on the Iberian peninsula in 1720. Chapel master in Lisbon, he followed Infanta Maria Barbara to Spain. He left mainly about 550 single-movement sonatas and a superb ten-voice Stabat Mater.
Naples, Venice and Rome (1685-1715)
Domenico was the son of Alessandro Scarlatti, one of the famous masters of the Neapolitan school. His father directed his studies: the boy showed great gifts early on. From 1701 he entered the Royal Chapel of Naples as organist and composer. As expected of a composer of his time, he wrote operas and sacred music.
In 1705 in Venice he met Handel and Vivaldi. From 1705 to 1715 he lived in Rome as conductor and opera composer. Those Italian years forged his craft, sense of aria and keyboard skill before the Iberian turn.
Lisbon, Spain and creative solitude (1720-1757)
The decisive change came in 1720. Scarlatti left for the Iberian peninsula and lived there for the rest of his life. He returned to Italy only twice, in 1724 and 1728. As chapel master at the Portuguese royal court in Lisbon, he taught harpsichord to Infanta Maria Barbara, whom he followed to Spain after her marriage to the heir to the throne, the future Ferdinand VI.
He gradually lost contact with the wider European musical world and had to forge his own. Received by the highest aristocracy and highly valued at court, he focused invention on the keyboard: an isolated laboratory fed by Spanish influences and a harmonic freedom rare in late baroque.
Keyboard sonatas: form and style
Apart from a superb ten-voice Stabat Mater, Scarlatti's output is almost entirely for keyboard. About 550 sonatas survive, nearly all in a single movement. One hears the influence of the harpsichord toccata; a sonata often matches a single dance from the instrumental suite: allemande, sarabande, gigue, minuet. Binary form is therefore frequent, in the wake of the baroque sonata.
Typical traits: improvisatory character; contrast and surprise; often unpredictable harmony and bold modulations; acciaccatura (a brief appoggiatura played with the main note); Spanish influence in some melodic and rhythmic turns; renewed keyboard technique (leaps, hand crossings) that anticipates piano technique. These sonatas are considered difficult and are often studied by pianists.
Chopin himself said piano teachers often resented his giving Scarlatti to pupils, yet this music offers finger exercises in abundance and a high spiritual element, sometimes even reaching Mozart. He affirmed that a day would come when Scarlatti would be frequently played and loved by the public.
Timeline and key works
- 1685: birth; training with Alessandro Scarlatti (Neapolitan school).
- 1701: organist and composer at the Royal Chapel of Naples.
- 1705: Venice, meeting Handel and Vivaldi.
- 1705-1715: Rome (conducting, operas).
- 1720: departure for Iberia; Lisbon, Infanta Maria Barbara.
- 1724, 1728: only returns to Italy.
- Spain: follows Maria Barbara (future Ferdinand VI); keyboard sonatas.
- 1757: death. Corpus: about 550 sonatas, ten-voice Stabat Mater.
Keyboard: single-movement sonatas, binary form, toccata, suite dances, Spanish colour. Vocal: ten-voice Stabat Mater. Contemporaries: Handel, Vivaldi, Bach.
FAQ on Domenico Scarlatti
Who was Domenico Scarlatti?
An Italian composer (1685-1757), son of Alessandro Scarlatti, master of the baroque keyboard sonata after a path from Naples and Rome to Lisbon and Spain.
How many sonatas did he write?
About 550 keyboard sonatas, nearly all in one movement, often binary in form, with toccata and suite-dance influences.
Why does Spain matter in his style?
From 1720 he lived on the Iberian peninsula and followed Maria Barbara to Spain. Spanish melodic and rhythmic turns mark some sonatas, in creative isolation from European musical life.
What is the acciaccatura in Scarlatti?
A brief appoggiatura played together with the main note: a typical keyboard ornament, source of surprise and colour.
How does Scarlatti help today's soloist?
Through score reading, phrasing, intonation and respect for historical styles (Baroque, Classical, Romantic, twentieth century).
Sources and quotations
Landmarks and quotations for further reading.
- Jean Mislin: musicologist, organist and choral conductor, teacher of Adeline Toniutti. Notes used within Adeline Toniutti's research.
- Biography: son of Alessandro Scarlatti (Neapolitan school); Naples 1701; Venice 1705 (Handel, Vivaldi); Rome 1705-1715; Iberia from 1720; Maria Barbara; Spain.
- Works: about 550 single-movement sonatas; ten-voice Stabat Mater; traits (improvisation, contrast, acciaccatura, Spanish colour, keyboard technique).
- Chopin: defence of Scarlatti as finger school and high spiritual element, sometimes close to Mozart.
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