Bouree Composed by Domenico Scarlatti - Digital Sheet Music

Born in Naples in 1685, Domenico Scarlatti was the son of the famous seventeenth-century operatic composer Alessandro Scarlatti. A domineering father, Alessandro took his son's career in hand early on and tried to gain him appointments with various patrons. It is not known with whom Domenico studied, but he became a formidable harpsichord virtuoso who influenced keyboard technique for generations to come. In 1709, he entered the employ of Maria Casimira, the exiled queen of Poland living in Rome, and while in her service he gained his professional reputation. His early compositions were efforts at operas, oratorios, and cantatas, all genres for which his father was known. At the home of Cardinal Ottoboni, Scarlatti met many performers and composers, including Corelli and Handel. He and Handel became close friends and admired each other's keyboard playing, although they are said to have competed against each other in a test of keyboard skills in 1708 or 1709. According to legend, Handel took the organ honors, but Scarlatti excelled at the harpsichord.