Matteo Carcassi

Matteo Carcassi (Florence, 1792 – Paris, 16 January 1853) was a famous Italian guitarist and composer. Carcassi began with the piano, but learned guitar when still a child. He quickly gained a reputation as a virtuoso concert guitarist.

He moved to Germany in 1810, gaining almost immediate success. In 1815, he was living in Paris, earning his living as a teacher of both the piano and the guitar. On a concert tour in Germany in 1819, he met his friend Antoine Meissonnier for the first time. Also a famous guitarist, Meissonnier published many of Carcassi's works in his Paris publishing house.

From 1820 on, Carcassi spent the majority of his time in Paris. In 1823, he performed an extremely successful series of concerts in London that earned him great fame, both as a performing artist and as a teacher. However, in Paris, a long time passed before his talents were truly recognised, partly because of the presence of Ferdinando Carulli, 'adored' by his audience.

Carcassi was in Germany again during the fall of 1824. Afterwards he performed in London, where his reputation now gave him access to more prestigious concert halls. Finally he returned to Paris. For several years, he made concert trips from here to the most important cultural towns of Europe, including London. After a short return to performing in 1836, he quit his concert practice around 1840 and died in the French capital in 1853.

Carcassi wrote a method for guitar (op. 59) that remains valuable, relevant and interesting. His most famous works are collected in his 25 Etudes op. 60. In these, he managed to blend technical skills and brilliant romantic music. This is the reason his music is still played by so many classical guitarists today.

His works have been published and recorded by numerous well known guitarists. Of note; Peter LaVine's complete performance of Carcassi's Opus 60: http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/peter-lavine/id499318725?ign-mpt=uo%3D4

List of Compositions by Matteo Carcassi
Op. 1, 3 sonates - 3 sonatas
Op. 2, 3 rondos - 3 rondos
Op. 3, 12 petites pieces - 12 small pieces
Op. 4, 6 valses - 6 waltzes
Op. 5, Le nouveau papillon, ou choix d'airs faciles et soigneusement doigtes - The new butterfly, or choice of easy and carefully fingered airs
Op. 6, Introduction, variations, et finale sur un duo favori - Introduction, variations, and finale on a favorite duo
Op. 7, "Au clair de la lune", varie - "Under the moonlight", with variations
Op. 8, Etrennes aux amateurs, ou nouveau recueil de 6 contredanses francaises, 6 valses, et 3 airs varies - Gifts for enthusiasts, or new collection of 6 French contradances, 6 waltzes, and 3 airs with variations
Op. 9, 3 airs italiens varies - 3 Italian airs with variations
Op. 10, Amusement, ou choix de 12 morceaux faciles et soigneusement doigtes - Amusement, or choice of 12 easy and carefully fingered pieces
Op. 11, Recueil de 10 petites pieces - Collection of 10 small pieces
Op. 12, 3 themes varies - 3 themes with variations
Op. 13, 4 potpourris des plus jolis airs des operas de Rossini - 4 medleys of very pretty airs from operas by Rossini
Op. 14, Melange de 22 morceaux faciles et soigneusement doigtes - Mix of 22 easy and carefully fingered pieces
Op. 15, "Tra la la", air varie - "Tra la la", air with variations
Op. 16, 8 divertissements - 8 divertimentos
Op. 17, "Le songe de Rousseau", air varie - "Rousseau's dream", air with variations
Op. 18, 6 airs varies d'une execution brillante et facile - 6 airs with variations with a brilliant and easy execution
Op. 19, Fantaisie sur les plus jolis airs de l'opera Robin Des Bois (Der Freischütz) - Fantasy on the very pretty airs of the opera Robin of the Forest (Der Freischütz)
Op. 20, Air suisse varie - Swiss air with variations
Op. 21, Les recreations des commencans, ou choix de 24 petites pieces - The recreation for the beginners, or choice of 24 small pieces
Op. 22, Air ecossais de l'opera La Dame Blanche - Scottish air from the opera The White Lady
Op. 23, 12 valses - 12 Waltzes
Op. 24, Air des Mysteres d'Isis, varie - Air from Mysteries of Isis with variations
Op. 25, 2me recueil de 8 divertissements - 2nd collection of 8 divertimentos
Op. 26, 6 caprices - 6 capriccios
Op. 27, Variations Brillantes sur un Theme Allemand
Op. 28, 2 airs de ballets de l'opera de Moise de Rossini^[2][3] - 2 ballet airs from the opera Moses by Rossini
Op. 29, lost?
Op. 30, Ouverture de Semiramide du celebre Rossini
Op. 31, Variations brillantes pour la guitare, sur un thême [Non più mesta] de la Cenerentola [by G. A. Rossini] ...
Op. 32, lost?
Op. 33, 6 fantaisies sur des motifs d'operas favoris: No. 1. La Muette De Portici - 6 fantasies on motives from favorite operas: Nr. 1. The Mute Girl of Portici
Op. 34, No. 2. Le Comte Ory - The Count Ory
Op. 35, No. 3. La Fiancee - The Bride
Op. 36, No. 4. Guillaume Tell - William Tell
Op. 37, No. 5. Fra Diavolo - Fra Diavolo
Op. 38, No. 6. Le Dieu Et La Bayadere - The God and the Bayadere
Op. 39, Douze Galops et Six Vals
Op. 40, Fantaisie sur des motifs de l'opera Zampa - Fantasy on the motives from the opera Zampa
Op. 41, Rondoletto sur l'air favori "Clic clac" - Rondoletto on the favorite air "Clic clac"
Op. 42, Fantasie sur les motifs du "Philtre" de Auber pour la Guitare
Op. 43, Mélange sur des motifs de Zampa, pour piano et guitare
Op. 44, 3 airs suisses varies - 3 Swiss airs with variations
Op. 45, Fantaisie sur des motifs de l'opera Le Serment - Fantasy on the motives from the opera The Oath
Op. 46, FANTAISIE Pour la Guitare Sur les motifs de La Médecine sans Medecin DE F. HEROLD
Op. 47, lost?
Op. 48, Fantaisie sur des motifs de l'opera Le Pre Aux Clercs - Fantasy from the motives from the opera The Clerks' Meadow
Op. 49, Fantaisie sur des motifs de l'opera Gustave - Fantasy on the motives from the opera Gustav
Op. 50, Récréations Musicales (Suite 1-4)
Op. 51, lost?
Op. 52, Valse favarite "Duc de Reichstadt" variee^[4] - Favorite waltz "Duke of Reichstadt" with variations Op. 53, 2 quadrilles de contradanses, 2 walses, et 2 galops^[5] - 2 square dances of contradances, 2 waltzes, and 2 galops
Op. 54, Recreations Musicales: Rondeaux, Variations et Fantasie
Op. 55, Valses brillantes à l'espagnole, Meissonier, Paris, 1835
Op. 56, Adieux à la Suisse: Tyrolienne de Bruguière, Variée
Op. 57, Fantaisie sur des motifs de l'opera Le Cheval De Bronze - Fantasy on the motives from the opera The Bronze Horse
Op. 58, lost?
Op. 59, Methode complete. Divisee en trois parties^[6] - Complete method. Divided in three parts
Op. 60, 25 etudes melodiques et progressives. 1re suite de la methode - 25 melodic and progressive studies. 1st suite of the method
Op. 61, Variations sur la romance de Greisar "Las Lavenses...
Op. 62, Melange sur des motifs de l'opera Sarah - Mix on the motives from the opera Sarah
Op. 63, lost? (Fantaisie sur Les Puritains)
Op. 64, Fantaisie sur des motifs de l'opera Le Postillon De Lonjumeau - Fantasy on the motives from the opera The Coachman of Lonjumeau
Op. 65, lost?
Op. 66, Melodie Italienne
Op. 67, Mosaique sur de motifs favoris de l'opera Le Domino Noir - Mosaic on the favorite motives from the opera The Black Domino
Op. 68, Choix des plus Jolies Valses de Strauss et de Labitzky arrangéespour la guitare ...
Op. 69, Melange sur les airs favoris du Lac Des Fees^[7] - Mix on the favorite airs from The Fairy Lake
Op. 70, Melange sur des motifs de l'opera Zanetta - Mix on the motives from the opera Zanetta
Op. 71, Fantaisie sur des motifs de l'opera Les Diamants De La Couronne - Fantasy on the motives from the opera The Diamonds of the Crown
Op. 72, lost? (Fantaisie sur Le Duc d'Olonne)
Op. 73, Fantaisie sur des motifs de l'opera La Part Du Diable - Fantasy on the motives from the opera The Part of the Devil
Op. 74, Melange sur des themes favoris de La Sirene^[8] - Mix on the favorite themes from The Siren
Op. 75, lost?
Op. 76, Fantaisie (La Barcarolle)
Op. 77, Fantaisie pour La Guitare Sur de Motifs de Robert Bruce Opera de G. Rossini