Domenico Scarlatti

Did you know one composer wrote more than 500 tiny musical adventures for the keyboard? Domenico Scarlatti (1685-1757) was an Italian Baroque composer from Naples. In this quick minute we'll focus on his most famous work: the short keyboard sonatas that changed how people thought about keyboard music and finger technique.

Scarlatti spent many years working at royal courts in Portugal and Spain, where he taught Princess Maria Barbara and followed her to the Spanish court. He wrote most of his music for the harpsichord, an instrument whose strings are plucked so notes sparkle quickly. His sonatas are shorter and more playful than many older Baroque pieces.

He wrote about 555 sonatas, each often only a minute or two long. They use lively Spanish dance rhythms, sudden leaps, hand-crossing tricks, repeated notes, and surprising harmonies that sometimes sound like guitars or clapping. These playful effects made the keyboard sound new and exciting and inspired later composers and modern pianists.

Today Scarlatti's sonatas are enjoyed in concerts and recordings, played on harpsichords and pianos. They're tiny musical playgrounds - fast, clever, and full of surprises where performers show off quick fingers and bright tone. Try listening to a few sonatas and see which one makes you want to tap your feet or imagine a dance.