World Famous Music Composers(Baroque Music)

Dominico Scarlatti       

Son of composer Alessandro Scarlatti, Dominico was born in Naples on October 26^th 1685. His father was his first teacher. He was the greatest Italian writer. For the harpsichord of his time, he composed about 600 pieces in one movement, now generally called “Sonatas” Most of them are written in Binary form. Among the most original and characteristic technical devices which appear in them are wide leaps, crossing of hands, rapidly repeated notes and repeated dissonant chords.

Among the works are Operas, Concertos, Cantatas, Masses and a Stab at Mater. Dominico Scarlatti died on July 23^rd 1757 Madrid.

Johann Sebastian Bach

            This German composer was born in Eisenach Germany on 21^st March 1685. He came from seven generations of professional musicians. He was born at a time when music was of great importance in court life. He lost both parents while he was still a boy and was then brought up by an elder brother who was also a musician fourteen years his senior. It was from this elder brother that Johann learnt his harmony and to play the organ, harpsichord and clavichord, the key board instruments used in those days, Equipped as a fully professional musician, he wrote works that fall into 3 sections corresponding to the different posts he held. They are

1)      Organ Music

2)      Orchestral and other Music

3)      Church Music

He wrote music in every known type of his day except opera. He became blind toward the latter part of his life. He died on 28^th July 1750.

His works include…

      Organ Music-  

§         6 Sonatas

§        143 Choral preludes

§        Toccatas (Toccata is a rapid and brilliant keyboard piece)

§        Preludes (Preludes is an independent composition of no prescribed form)

      Orchestral Music-        

§         Six Brandenburg Concertos,

§         Four Overtures (an Overture is an instrumental introduction  to an opera or a play)

§         Concerto for harpsichord, flute and violin

      Church Music-

§         St. John Passion

§         St. Matthew Passion

§         Christmas Oratorio

§         Mass in B minor

      Keyboard Music-

§         48 Preludes and Fugues

§         6 French suites (a suite is a work consisting of several short movements which are dance types and are in the same key. The dances are termed Allemande, Courante, Sara band, Gigue, Bouree, Minuet) The well tempered clavier,

§         Italian Concerto.