Domenico Scarlatti
Domenico Scarlatti began his compositional career following in the footsteps of his father Alessandro Scarlatti by writing operas, chamber cantatas, and other vocal music, but he is most remembered for his 555 keyboard sonatas, written between approximately 1719 and 1757.
It is believed that Domenico received most of his musical training from family members, but his father was the dominant figure in his life. It was Alessandro who arranged Domenico's first appointment, as organist and composer for Naples' Cappella Reale, and wanted him to continue with vocal music despite the enormous talent he had shown for keyboard music. Domenico was sent to Venice in 1705, where he met Handel, and in 1708 to Rome to become maestro di cappella to the exiled queen of Poland, Maria Casimira, and later, head of the Cappella Giulia. In these positions, he composed his operas and serenatas, and some sacred vocal works. It was also in Rome where he developed a friendship with the Portuguese ambassador, the Marquis de Fontes, which eventually led to Scarlatti's being appointed master of the royal chapel by João V of Portugal in 1719. Scarlatti was also teacher to the royal family, particularly princess Maria Barbara. Scarlatti had already written approximately 50 keyboard pieces before coming to Lisbon, but wrote many more for his students, which also included Carlos de Seixas. When Maria Barbara married Spanish prince Ferdinando, Scarlatti followed her to Spain. His first publication, 30 sonatas called "Essercizi," was issued in 1738 and sold throughout Europe. Although as King and Queen, Ferdinando and Maria Barbara introduced opera into Spain's cultural life, Scarlatti did not write any for them. However, he did assist in their private musical soirées, again writing cantatas and working with singers such as the castrato Farinelli. Scarlatti also continued to teach, and, in the last six years of his life, concentrated on organizing his sonatas in manuscripts. These one-movement sonatas are recognized as cornerstones of the keyboard repertoire, a bridge between the Baroque and the galant styles of keyboard writing. They demonstrate his facility in adapting rhythms found in contemporary Iberian popular music and his inventiveness in creating themes and developing interesting harmonies, and like Bach's music, have been performed on many instruments other than harpsichord, piano, or organ.
© Patsy Morita /TiVo
-
Sonate K. 30
Classical - Released by soundnotation on Mar. 5, 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Scarlatti: The Complete Sonatas
Richard Lester, Elizabeth Lester, Nerys Evans
Classical - Released by Nimbus Records on Sep. 3, 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Domenico Scarlatti: 20 Sonatas on Gravicembalo col piano e forte
Classical - Released by ALM Records on Jul. 7, 2007
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Sonate K. 319
Classical - Released by soundnotation on Sep. 23, 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Barroco en Portugal
Classical - Released by Tempus Clásico on Jun. 4, 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Sonate K. 455
Classical - Released by Classicato on Aug. 8, 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mordecai Shehori Plays Scarlatti, Beethoven & Brahms-Paganini
Classical - Released by Cembal d'amour CD 99 on Jan. 1, 1997
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Scarlatti: Keyboard Sonata in C Major, L. S2 (Digitally Remastered)
Classical - Released by EMG Classical on Dec. 9, 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Grandes Epocas de la Música, Scarlatti, Geminiani, Marcello, Manfredini, Corelli
Ars Rediviva Ensemble, Bohuslav Martinu Orchestra, Janacek Chamber Orchestra
Classical - Released by JamadaClassics on Nov. 24, 2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Domenico Scarlatti: The Sonatas for Piano, Vol. 6: L. 61-72 (Remastered in 2022)
Classical - Released by Claudio Colombo on May 29, 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
La Dirindina
Opera - Released by RC Record Classic Label on Oct. 23, 2017
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Sonate K. 454
Classical - Released by soundnotation on Dec. 1, 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Piano Classics
Classical - Released by Heritage Records on Aug. 29, 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Andalucía En El Barroco. Sonatas de Domingo Scarlatti
Classical - Released by Àudiovisuals de Sarrià on Feb. 16, 1980
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
José Iturbi - Amparo Iturbi
Classical - Released by JamadaDigital on Feb. 5, 2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Sonate K. 54
Classical - Released by soundnotation on Sep. 16, 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Maria Kihlgren: Music from the Mediterranean
Classical - Released by Sterling Records on Jun. 3, 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Robert Henry
Classical - Released by ACA Digital Recording, Inc. on Mar. 26, 2024
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Scarlatti: Keyboard Sonata in D Major, L. 14 (Digitally Remastered)
Classical - Released by EMG Classical on Dec. 9, 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Sonate K. 467
Classical - Released by soundnotation on Jul. 22, 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
15 Sonatas Caro Mimo!
Kjell Bygden, Domenico Scarlatti
Classical - Released by Nosag on Sep. 30, 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo