Scarlatti's sonatas often feature acrobatic techniques like frequent hand crossing, rapid repeated notes, and extremely fast runs in thirds, alongside sudden, unprepared key changes.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Scarlatti's sonatas cultivate a 'creative anarchy' in contrast to Johann Sebastian Bach's music, which suggests a 'cosmic order' through its superimposed logic.
Composer Biography
Scarlatti was considered the leading harpsichordist of his time and was one of the first to play with all ten fingers, breaking from the tradition of not using thumbs.
Composer Biography
Scarlatti moved to Portugal in 1719 to serve King João V and teach harpsichord to Princess Maria Bárbara de Bragança, a student whose marriage later led him to the Spanish court.
Composer Biography
Domenico Scarlatti, son of the famous composer Alessandro Scarlatti, was born in Naples in 1685 and began his career as an organist and composer in the court orchestra by age sixteen.
Composition History
Most of Scarlatti's 555 keyboard sonatas, which secured his place in history, were composed during his nearly three decades at the Spanish court.
Cultural Impact
Scarlatti's sonatas were highly valued by Romantic composers Frédéric Chopin and Franz Liszt in the 19th century, who promoted their rediscovery and dissemination.
