Una sconosciuta composizione vocale sacra dei giovane Domenico Scarlatti per la Cappella Reale di Napoli (1701)

Abstract

A number of Neapolitan musical manuscripts of the 17th and the 18th century are preserved among the Di Giacomo papers in the Biblioteca Lucchesi Palli, the musical section of the Biblioteca Nazionale in Naples whose long-time librarian was the poet Salvatore Di Giacomo (1860-1934). The most precious among these documents, which have been ignored until now, is certainly a 5-voice motet with violins Antra, Valles, Divo plaudant «Del Sig. Domenico Scarlatti» dated 1701. If the attribution may be considered authentic, the manuscript presents several exceptional features: it is the oldest precisely dated composition by Domenico Scarlatti, the only sacred work composed during his youthful Neapolitan period (possibly as an entry test to the Royal Chapel, an institution directed by his father Alessandro in which Domenico was admitted soon afterwards, from 1702), and it adds to the exiguous catalogue of his sacred vocal works.