He had now come to the full measure of his powers and popularity. One
of his celebrated works, "Il Caduta de Decemviri," was played in 1706;
another, "Il Trionfo della Liberta," was played at Venice in 1707. He
composed with the greatest spontaneity. Burney, the musical historian,
mentions seeing the manuscripts of thirty-five cantatas by Scarlatti,
which he composed at Tivoli, in the month of October, 1704, while on
a visit to his friend, André Adami, chaplain singer in the pontifical
chapel. These works were dated, and the dates show that they were written
at the rate of one a day. Quanz, the celebrated flute player, visited
Naples in 1725, when Scarlatti was a very old man, and met him several
times. He mentions a certain wealthy amateur who had collected four
hundred manuscript compositions of Scarlatti.
It was during the Roman residence that the young Handel formed the
acquaintance of the two Scarlattis, for the son Domenico was by this time
the very first clavier virtuoso in Italy. Handel was so much interested
that he accompanied the Scarlattis upon their return to Naples, where the
master resumed his position as court musical director, in 1709. Handel
remained in Naples, studying the cantata style of Scarlatti, until the
spring of the following year.
In his later residence at Naples his activity continued, but the very
names of many of his works are now lost. Among the most important of
these may be mentioned the opera of "Tigrane," which was played in 1715.
Another, "Griselda," was produced in 1721. In addition to the direction
of the conservatory of San Onofrio, he appears to have taught musical
composition at the two other conservatories, of Dei Poveri and Di Loreto.
His activity as composer continued almost to the end of his long and
honored life. He died Oct. 24, 1725.
* * * * *
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