Scarlatti

When?

October 26 1685

July 23 1757, age 71

Where?

Naples, Italy

Scarlatti was a

Baroque

composer.

Scarlatti is most famous for composing musical pieces called sonatas for the harpsichord. He wrote over 500 of them!

Scarlatti lived in Spain and loved the sound the clack clack of castanets, the strum strum of guitars and the tap tap of dancers’ feet, so he imitated these sounds in his music.

Scarlatti’s music is full of quick jumps from one key to another and hand crossing-when the left hand crosses over the right!

Inspired Spanish music he heard while living in Spain, he wanted to imitate the strumming of guitar strings, the clacking of castanets and the tap tap of dancers’ feet. This makes his music sound different from other Baroque composers.

Scarlatti’s music is full of quick jumps from one key to another, like the and wild rhythms and fast finger work, almost like the fingers are doing fast exercises!

Fun Facts

Both Maestros

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Harpsichord

Unlike a piano that hammers Strings, the harpsichord plucked like a harp. That’s why it sounds bright and twinkly.

Both Maestros

Cross Your Hands, Not Your Fingers

Sometimes to play the notes in a Scarlatti sonata, the player has to cross hands, meaning the left hand crosses over the right! This is a little tricky to do and was unusual at the time.

Both Maestros

Double-Decker Keyboard

Many harpsichords have TWO keyboards stacked on top of each other! Each one makes a different sound—like having two instruments in one.