Domenico Scarlatti, a prominent Baroque composer who lived from 1685 to 1757, is known among modern pianists for his extensive musical legacy. Throughout his life, he composed 555 unique keyboard sonatas, many of which are frequently performed on concert stages today.
According to an old anecdote, the composer was relaxing in a comfortable chair in his sunny garden one afternoon. He was attempting to multitask: gently petting his cat while simultaneously trying to grab an elusive musical idea that kept slipping from his mind. His concentration was broken when his student, Hasse, arrived and called out to announce himself for their scheduled lesson. Scarlatti asked his pupil to take a seat while he stayed in the garden a moment longer, hoping to finally capture the stubborn melody.
Inside the music room, a playful confrontation was brewing. Scarlatti’s cat was well aware that the family dog, Truelove, was tracking her movements. To tease the hound, the cat climbed onto a harpsichord decorating the room. Seeking some mischief, the young Hasse picked up the dog and placed him directly onto the cat’s back. Furious, the feline bolted across the keys in a desperate bid to shake off the unexpected passenger. The dog eventually fell to the floor with a loud thud, and the cat quickly escaped.
Hearing the chaotic racket from the garden, Scarlatti exclaimed: “You found it!” and got up. Cancelled for the day, Hasse was sent home as the composer grabbed a fresh sheet of manuscript and his quill. When the student returned the next morning, Scarlatti showed him the finished piece and performed what the world now knows as the Cat’s Fugue.
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