Francesco Scarlatti
Encyclopedia
Francesco Scarlatti was an Italian
Baroque
composer
and musician and brother of the better known Alessandro Scarlatti
.
Francesco was ever to live under the shadow of his better known relatives, Alessandro Scarlatti (his elder brother) and his nephew, Domenico
. However, Francesco himself was an accomplished musician and held a number of appointments.
He was born on 5 December of 1666 at Palermo
, Sicily
. Due to the island being under the control of the Kingdom of Naples
, Francesco went up to study at the well-known Conservatorio in the city. His first appointment, following his studies, was as a violinist at the Chapel Royal in Naples. His appointment was controversial: a number of Neapolitan musicians resented the young provincial's influence at court.
In 1690, he married Rosalinda Albano. She died in 1706 after giving Scarlatti five children.
Francesco later travelled around Europe. He visited London
in 1719; some sources suggest that this was on the invitation of his friend Handel
, whom he had met some years before in Italy. Hardly anything is known of his time in London. It is thought that he probably worked in theatre orchestras. Scarlatti was recommended to James Brydges, 1st Duke of Chandos
by John Arbuthnot
. Chandos, a patron of Handel, maintained a musical establishment at his main house, Cannons
in Middlesex, but Scarlatti appears not to have joined it.
By 1724 Francesco Scarlatti was living in Dublin. His post was reported as 'Master of Musick'. Perhaps whilst in Ireland
he re-married. The Dublin Journal of 1733 reports: 'Jane Scarlatti, wife of Francis Scarlatti, Master of Musick, hath eloped from her said husband. This is to desire that nobody may give any credit to the said Jane Scarlatti on account of her said husband; for he will not pay any debts that she shall contract; nor answer any bills she may draw on him.'
The last record of Francesco Scarlatti is in 1741, when he was apparently unavailable for a concert due to ill-health. No further record remains of Scarlatti.
Psalm 110 (Dixit dominus) for sixteen singers with orchestra. Dated 1702.
Messa
(Kyrie and Gloria only.) For 16 singers with instruments. Dated 1703.
Psalm 51 (Miserere) for SSATB chorus with instruments. Dated March 24, 1714, this psalm-setting consists of eleven movements.:
The autographed manuscripts for the "Messa" and "Dixit Dominus" are now at the Bodleian Library
, Oxford. An authorized copy of the "Miserere" is keptin the Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, Vienna.
The Miserere, Dixit Dominus and Mass were recorded for the first time in 2003 by the Armonico Consort, Concerto Gallese, the English Cornett and Sackbutt Ensemble and soprano soloist Dame Emma Kirkby
directed by Christopher Monks.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
Baroque
Baroque music
Baroque music describes a style of Western Classical music approximately extending from 1600 to 1760. This era follows the Renaissance and was followed in turn by the Classical era...
composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and musician and brother of the better known Alessandro Scarlatti
Alessandro Scarlatti
Alessandro Scarlatti was an Italian Baroque composer especially famous for his operas and chamber cantatas. He is considered the founder of the Neapolitan school of opera. He was the father of two other composers, Domenico Scarlatti and Pietro Filippo Scarlatti.-Life:Scarlatti was born in...
.
Francesco was ever to live under the shadow of his better known relatives, Alessandro Scarlatti (his elder brother) and his nephew, Domenico
Domenico Scarlatti
Giuseppe Domenico Scarlatti was an Italian composer who spent much of his life in the service of the Portuguese and Spanish royal families. He is classified as a Baroque composer chronologically, although his music was influential in the development of the Classical style...
. However, Francesco himself was an accomplished musician and held a number of appointments.
He was born on 5 December of 1666 at Palermo
Palermo
Palermo is a city in Southern Italy, the capital of both the autonomous region of Sicily and the Province of Palermo. The city is noted for its history, culture, architecture and gastronomy, playing an important role throughout much of its existence; it is over 2,700 years old...
, Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
. Due to the island being under the control of the Kingdom of Naples
Kingdom of Naples
The Kingdom of Naples, comprising the southern part of the Italian peninsula, was the remainder of the old Kingdom of Sicily after secession of the island of Sicily as a result of the Sicilian Vespers rebellion of 1282. Known to contemporaries as the Kingdom of Sicily, it is dubbed Kingdom of...
, Francesco went up to study at the well-known Conservatorio in the city. His first appointment, following his studies, was as a violinist at the Chapel Royal in Naples. His appointment was controversial: a number of Neapolitan musicians resented the young provincial's influence at court.
In 1690, he married Rosalinda Albano. She died in 1706 after giving Scarlatti five children.
Francesco later travelled around Europe. He visited London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1719; some sources suggest that this was on the invitation of his friend Handel
George Frideric Handel
George Frideric Handel was a German-British Baroque composer, famous for his operas, oratorios, anthems and organ concertos. Handel was born in 1685, in a family indifferent to music...
, whom he had met some years before in Italy. Hardly anything is known of his time in London. It is thought that he probably worked in theatre orchestras. Scarlatti was recommended to James Brydges, 1st Duke of Chandos
James Brydges, 1st Duke of Chandos
James Brydges, 1st Duke of Chandos, MP, PC was the first of fourteen children by Sir James Brydges, 3rd Baronet of Wilton Castle, Sheriff of Herefordshire, 8th Baron Chandos; and Elizabeth Barnard...
by John Arbuthnot
John Arbuthnot
John Arbuthnot, often known simply as Dr. Arbuthnot, , was a physician, satirist and polymath in London...
. Chandos, a patron of Handel, maintained a musical establishment at his main house, Cannons
Cannons (house)
Cannons was a stately home in Little Stanmore, Middlesex built for James Brydges, 1st Duke of Chandos between 1713 and 1724 at a cost of £200,000 but which in 1747 was razed and its contents dispersed....
in Middlesex, but Scarlatti appears not to have joined it.
By 1724 Francesco Scarlatti was living in Dublin. His post was reported as 'Master of Musick'. Perhaps whilst in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
he re-married. The Dublin Journal of 1733 reports: 'Jane Scarlatti, wife of Francis Scarlatti, Master of Musick, hath eloped from her said husband. This is to desire that nobody may give any credit to the said Jane Scarlatti on account of her said husband; for he will not pay any debts that she shall contract; nor answer any bills she may draw on him.'
The last record of Francesco Scarlatti is in 1741, when he was apparently unavailable for a concert due to ill-health. No further record remains of Scarlatti.
Works
Psalm 122 (Laetatus sum) for SSATB with strings and continuo.Psalm 110 (Dixit dominus) for sixteen singers with orchestra. Dated 1702.
- Dixit Dominus - Chorus, trumpet, violins I & II, viola and continuo
- Donec ponam inimicos tuos - Bass I-IV, violin and continuo
- Virgam virtutis tuae - Chorus, trumpet, violins I & II, viola and continuo
- Tecum principium - Soprano I-IV, Alto I-IV violin, viola and continuo
- Juravit Dominus - Tenor I-IV, violin, continuo
- Dominus a dextris tuis - Chorus, trumpet, violins I & II, viola and continuo
- Judicabit in nationibus - Chorus, trumpet, violins I & II, viola and continuo
- De torrente in via bibet - soprano solo, trumpet, continuo
- Gloria Patri - Chorus, trumpet, violins I & II, viola and continuo
Messa
Mass (music)
The Mass, a form of sacred musical composition, is a choral composition that sets the invariable portions of the Eucharistic liturgy to music...
(Kyrie and Gloria only.) For 16 singers with instruments. Dated 1703.
- Kyrie - Chorus, trumpet, violins I & II, viola and continuo
- Gloria - Chorus, trumpet, violins I & II, viola and continuo
- Gratias agimus tibi - Soprano I-IV, violin and continuo
- Dominus Deus, Rex cœlestis - Alto I-IV, violin and continuo
- Dominie Fili unigenite - Tenor I-IV, violin and continuo
- Dominus Deus, Agnust Dei - Bass I-IV, violin, violincello and continuo
- Qui tollis peccata mundi (I) - Chorus, trumpet, violins I & II, viola and continuo
- Qui tollis peccata mundi (II) - Soprano I, violin I & II, viola and continuo
- Quoniam tu solus sanctus - Chorus, trumpet, violins I & II, viola and continuo
- Cum Sancto Spiritu - Chorus, trumpet, violins I & II, viola and continuo
Psalm 51 (Miserere) for SSATB chorus with instruments. Dated March 24, 1714, this psalm-setting consists of eleven movements.:
- Miserere mei - SSATB chorus, coronetts, sackbuts, violins I & II, viola and continuo
- Amplius lava me - Solo SSAT, violins I & II, viola and continuo
- Ecce enim - Solo alto and tenor, violins I & II, viola and continuo
- Asperges me hyssopo - Solo SAB, violins I & II, viola and continuo
- Cor mundum - SSATB chorus, coronetts, sackbuts, violins I & II, viola and continuo
- Ne proicias me - Solo alto and tenor, violins I & II, viola and continuo
- Docebo iniquos vias tuas - solo SSATB and continuo
- Sacrificium Deo - SSATB chorus, coronetts, sackbuts, violins I & II, viola and continuo
- Benigne fac Domine - Bass soloist and continuo
- Tunc acceptabis - SSATB chorus, coronetts, sackbuts, violins I & II, viola and continuo
- Gloria Patri - SSATB chorus, coronetts, sackbuts, violins I & II, viola and continuo
The autographed manuscripts for the "Messa" and "Dixit Dominus" are now at the Bodleian Library
Bodleian Library
The Bodleian Library , the main research library of the University of Oxford, is one of the oldest libraries in Europe, and in Britain is second in size only to the British Library...
, Oxford. An authorized copy of the "Miserere" is keptin the Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, Vienna.
The Miserere, Dixit Dominus and Mass were recorded for the first time in 2003 by the Armonico Consort, Concerto Gallese, the English Cornett and Sackbutt Ensemble and soprano soloist Dame Emma Kirkby
Emma Kirkby
Dame Carolyn Emma Kirkby, DBE is an English soprano singer and one of the world's most renowned early music specialists. She attended Sherborne School For Girls in Dorset and was a classics student at Somerville College, Oxford, and an English teacher before developing a career as a soloist...
directed by Christopher Monks.