Domenico Scarlatti, a contemporary of J.S. Bach and Handel, was an Italian composer who spent much of his life entertaining and teaching Spanish and Portuguese royal families. He composed operas, cantatas, symphonias, and liturgical pieces, but he is most famous for composing 555 sonatas for keyboards.
(Please excuse the buzzing and the recording clips.)
Scarlatti did not compose for lute or any kind of guitar-like instrument, but his compositions for harpsichord were influenced by the Spanish guitar. Not surprisingly then, his sonatas transcribe well for guitar.
Scarlatti was an exceptional harpsichordist, and in an early version of battle of the bands, there was a competition between him and Handel. Scarlatti was judged the better harpsichordist and Handel the better organist.
Fun Fact: Scarlatti was friends with fellow Neapolitan, the castrato Farinelli. Most of what we know about Scarlatti comes to us via Farinelli’s letters to the composer.
Thank you, Wikipedia.
Extra goodness: Alessandro Moreschi was the only castrato to be recorded, and the last castrato, full stop. This recording was made between 1902 and 1904. In 1903 the practice was prohibited. What do you think of his voice?