Domenico Scarlatti was the son of Alessandro Scarlatti. He is best known for his distinctive harpsichord sonatas. Although there is no documentary proof, it is assumed that Domenico received his early musical training from his father and other members of his musical family.
He began his musical career as organist at the royal chapel in Naples. He wrote several operas which were produced in Naples in 1703 and 1704.
In 1708 Scarlatti went to Venice, where he studied with Francesco Gasparini, a leading composer of the day. While Scarlatti was in Venice, he met Georg Friedrich Handel, who was his contemporary in age. A report from that period in Venice mentions his accomplished performance on the harpsichord at a private performance there.
From 1709-1714 Scarlatti worked in Rome, writing a number of operas for Maria Casimira, the Queen of Poland. From 1714 to 1719 he served as chapel master for the Portuguese ambassador, then for the Cappella Giulia in the Vatican. In 1720 Scarlatti left Italy for Portugal, where he was appointed chapelmaster of the royal chapel in Lisbon. One of his duties was to instruct members of the royal family in music. One of these family members, the Infanta Maria Barbara, was both gifted and enthusiastic at the harpsichord, and she remained devoted to Scarlatti her entire life. When she married into the Spanish royal family in 1729, he followed her to the Spanish court. He remained with her in Spain until he died in Madrid in 1757.
Domenico Scarlatti wrote 12 operas (two of which were with collaborators), chamber cantatas, sacred music, and over 550 sonatas for the harpsichord. His sonatas for the harpsichord are noted for exploiting the full potential of the instrument, and for the individuality of each sonata in terms of the musical ideas expressed. His musical style, though incorporating elements of earlier keyboard music of Italy, Portugal and Spain is considered to be uniquely his own.
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