Matteo Carcassi

Matteo Carcassi

Carcassi was born in 1792 in Italy in the city of Florence. He studied the piano and the guitar, but he quickly became a concert guitarist. In his life, he has lived in Italy, Germany and in France and Great Britain. He was known for his solid technique and arranging piano music in such a manner that it could be played on guitar.

Matteo Carcassi, playing the Guitar
Matteo Carcassi, playing the Guitar

Teacher, salons and concerts

In 1810, Carcassi became a success in Germany. A few years later, in 1815, he was teaching the guitar and the piano in Paris and he would be giving concert tours. In Germany, he met the French musician Antoine Meissonnier, who introduced his work to a wider audience. Carcassi published works before, but they were not yet widely acclaimed. In 1822, Carcassi went on a tour in England and played in concert halls in London.

 

Opus 60

Several works of Carcassi are known to the public. One of them is Opus 60, a set of 25 etudes. The feel is a bit French rather than Italian or German, because it sounds so romantic. The etudes of Opus 60 combine engaging melodies with technical skill. It’s interesting and educational to play.  I have played the first page/ part of Melodische und fortschreitende Etüden ( Anton Stingl) on my guitar. You can listen to it down here.

 

 

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