The Style And Structure Of Domenico Scarlatti's Keyboard Sonatas

555 keyboard sonatas involving its style and structure characters composed by Domenico Scarlatti (Domenico Scarlatti, 1685—1757) , who played a linking role in the history of Western music development from late Baroque to the Pre-Classical period, are investigated in this dissertation. The prominent innovation on composition comes from his strong quest for the unique value of music language. In addition, though he lived in a transitional period of late Baroque and thePre-Classical period, his unique mixed style does not belong to any school, which is presented through his music languages of different countries and nations.This dissertation includes seven chapters. Chapter I: "Introduction of Biography and Composition of Scarlatti". The background he lived and his early music education are shown in this chapter through his family and biography; Chapter II: "Research of Holistic Style Characters". The style characters of Scarlatti involving the classifications, possible sources etc are studied in this chapter. According his holistic style of music composition is mainly described; Chapter III: "Harmony Style Research". This chapter focuses on the audacious applications of his composition ways, such as acciaccatura and bitonality, which has an incisive and vivid expression. Consequently, this is crucial for Scarlatti to represent his outstanding advance in music; Chapter IV: "The Vamp Study". Vamp composition, the most unique approach of Scarlatti, brings a new impetus on his music development; Chapter V: "Innovative and Virtuosity Style of Keyboard Playing". This is a profound style feature that has an important impact on future generations in keyboard music; Chapter VI: "The Free Dynamics of the Structure". This chapter stresses on "the dynamic tests" of internal and external structures, and the internal organization, to express his free and illusive style; Chapter VII: "Musical form structure research". In this chapter the historic exploration and innovation of Scarlatti in musical form structure is a keystone that dramatically contributes to the development of ancient sonata-form. Consequently, to evaluate Scarlatti, this must be taken a critical aspect into consideration.Based on the 18th century Baroque composition traditions, Scarlatti integrated the existing music materials with his innovative creative techniques to reorganize and explore by his rich imagination, which vividly exists a sign of Pre-Classical style. The creative uniqueness reflected by his sonata has a profound influence on the composing direction and techniques of his generations and future generations' composers. Therefore, in general, Scarlatti deserves more attentions to be paid and his historical status in the development of Western music should not be ignored.