Domenico Scarlatti
(1685 - 1757)

Sixth of the ten children of Alessandro Scarlatti, Domenico Scarlatti was born in Naples in 1685, the year of birth of Handel and J.S. Bach. After an earlier period in Italy he moved to Portugal and thence, in the service of the Infanta Maria Barbara to Madrid, after her marriage to the Spanish Infante. He remained in the service of Maria Barbara after her husband's accession to the throne and died in Madrid in 1757. He is chiefly known for the large number of short sonatas he wrote for the harpsichord, many of them for his royal pupil and patron.
Domenico Scarlatti wrote over 550 single-movement sonatas or 'Exercises' (Esercizi) for the harpsichord, making characteristic but innovative use of the instrument. The Queen also had pianos in her palaces, and some of the sonatas may have been written with these early hammer-action instruments in mind. Domenico Scarlatti’s earlier compositions included operas, oratorios and other vocal music. He also wrote a relatively small number of sinfonias for instrumental ensemble.