Pietro Filippo Scarlatti

Pietro Filippo Scarlatti was born in Rome in 1679 and died in Naples in February 1750. The son of the celebrated Alessandro Scarlatti, he probably received his first musical grounding from his father. His career unfolded almost entirely within the ecclesiastical and courtly world of southern Italy, although his early steps took him to the north of Lazio.

Between 1705 and 1708 he held the post of maestro di cappella at the cathedral of Urbino, a position he gave up when his father summoned him to Naples. There he hoped to succeed Cristoforo Caresana as first organist of the Royal Chapel, a post the viceroy, Cardinal Grimaldi, had promised him. However, Grimaldi fell seriously ill and died in November 1710, before the promise could be fulfilled. Scarlatti had to wait until 1712 to secure a post as organist of the Royal Chapel, succeeding Giuseppe Vignola.

His first operatic commission came in 1728 with Clitarco, probably his only opera. According to Burney, Cotumaccio regarded him as a musician of little worth, a judgement that should be treated with caution. After his death, his sons unsuccessfully petitioned for his position to pass to Alessandro, which suggests that Alessandro was also a musician.

Today he is remembered chiefly for his sacred music and his keyboard works, although much of his output has been lost.