Caspar Joseph Mertz, despite his virtuosity, struggled to secure a permanent position in musical life due to frequent illness and the 1848 revolution.
Composer Biography
Caspar Joseph Mertz, a guitarist and composer, was born in Bratislava in 1806, the son of a cobbler.
Critical Reception
Caspar Joseph Mertz's music was rediscovered in recent years after the guitar fell into obscurity following his death in 1856, with some of his works now part of the standard concert repertoire.
Recording & Production
This recording was made in Innsbruck in June 1997, with Hanno Ströher handling the recording and digital editing.
Instruments
The piano used in this recording is a Steinway & Sons from 1926, and the guitar was made by Kolya Panhuyzen in Toronto in 1990.
Historical Context
After the decline of the guitar's popularity in Austria following Giuliani and Regondi, Caspar Joseph Mertz was one of the last guitarists to uphold the instrument's tradition.
Composition History
Caspar Joseph Mertz's 'Concertino' won first prize in a competition in St. Petersburg two months after his death in 1856, a success he did not live to witness.
