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Alessandro Scarlatti

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description Alessandro Scarlatti Overview

Alessandro Scarlatti was an Italian Baroque composer central to the development of Neapolitan opera and the chamber cantata. He wrote numerous operas, oratorios, serenatas, and hundreds of cantatas, often using clear distinctions between recitative and aria and helping establish the three-part da capo aria. Active principally in Naples and Rome, he influenced eighteenth-century vocal music and was the father of the keyboard composer Domenico Scarlatti.

help Alessandro Scarlatti FAQ

Was Alessandro Scarlatti the father of Domenico Scarlatti?

Yes, Alessandro Scarlatti was the father of Domenico Scarlatti, the renowned composer of keyboard sonatas. Domenico was born in 1685, the same year as Johann Sebastian Bach and George Frideric Handel, and received his early musical training from his father.

How did Alessandro Scarlatti contribute to the development of opera?

Alessandro Scarlatti was central to the development of Neapolitan opera and helped establish the convention of the da capo aria, in which the opening section is repeated after a contrasting middle section. He composed over 100 operas and helped formalize the distinction between recitative and aria.

Where did Alessandro Scarlatti work during his career?

Alessandro Scarlatti worked primarily in Naples and Rome, where he was a leading figure in the musical life of the late 17th and early 18th centuries. He held positions including that of maestro di cappella for various aristocratic and ecclesiastical patrons in both cities.

How many cantatas did Alessandro Scarlatti compose?

Alessandro Scarlatti composed hundreds of chamber cantatas, in addition to his operas, oratorios, and serenatas. These cantatas, typically for solo voice and continuo, were a significant part of his output and helped define the genre in the Italian Baroque.