José Rafaël Juan Ferrer y Esteve, guitarist, composer and teacher was born in the city of Gerona on March 13th, 1835. He was the son of Joaquin Ferrer y Vidal (1803-1883), a lawyer, and of Maria Francisca Esteve y Espluges (1808-1847).

The earliest ancestors of the guitarist came from Ventalló (province of Gerona). The first recorded Ferrer came from Torroella de Montgri during the 1720’s. José Ferrer lived in Gerona for little more than 5 years, returning at the beginning of 1840 with his family to Torroella de Montgri where he started to study the guitar with his father. It is probable that these first studies in music theory took place in the music chapel of the town’s church and lasted until 1860 when he left for Barcelona.

In Barcelona he continued his studies with professor José Brocá y Codina (1805-1882) who introduced him to the artistic and social life of the city. Two years later, Ferrer started to teach the guitar alternating this with his profession of photographer for 25 years before relocating to Paris. During his time in Barcelona, he gave numerous concerts sometimes with the guitarist José Viñas y Diaz (1823-1888).

His arrival in Paris coincided with a surge in interest in the guitar in that city brought about largely by Jaime Bosch y Renard (1826-1893) who also came from Barcelona.
Ferrer was for 13 years a professor in the Rudy Institute and in the International Academy of Music. He gave many recitals in prestigious venues; the Pleyel, Herz, Rudy etc. In 1893 he joined the Academy of French Music and Letters. His composition Memories of Yester-year, six minuets for solo guitar, op.40, won an important prize in an international competition organised by the academy.

In 1898 he returned to Barcelona as Professor of Guitar in the Higher Academy of Music and Opera.

During his second sojourn in Paris, his main objective was to publish his Method for Guitar on which he had worked for many years. Unfortunately, this was not to be and it remained in manuscript form.

After three years in Paris, he returned finally to Barcelona devoting himself during the rest of his long life to composition and teaching. He died in his home in Barcelona on March 7th, 1916.

Ferrer’s compositions have a strictly academic formal structure adhering, in most cases, to the currently accepted rules. Nonetheless, his music is highly imaginative and explores a vast range of instrumental techniques. It is perfectly in keeping with the Romantic spirit of the period.

José Ferer Y Esteve (1835-1916) Ejercicio n°9, de "Collection 12a de Ejercicios"

 

Published works of José Ferrer y Esteve
Op. 1. Recuerdos de Montgrí, capricho para guitarra.
Op. 2. Quejas de mi Lira, vals para guitarra.
Op. 3. Fantasía con variaciones sobre un tema de Beriot para guitarra.
Op. 4. Cuatro piezas progresivas para guitarra.
Op. 5. El Ramillete, diez pequeñas piezas para guitarra.
Op. 6. Brisas del Parnaso, cuatro piezas para guitarra.
Op. 7. El Talismán, vals para guitarra.
Op. 8. Horas Apacibles, ocho piezas fáciles para guitarra.
Op. 9. Tres Valses para guitarra.
Op. 10. Polonesa para guitarra.
Op. 11. Dos Nocturnos para guitarra.
Op. 12. Doce Minués para guitarra.
Op. 13. Elegía Fantástica para guitarra.
Op. 14. De Noche en el Lago, fantasía con variaciones para guitarra.
Op. 15. La Gallegada, fantasía pastoril con variaciones para guitarra.
Op. 16. Los Encantos de París, capricho fantástico para guitarra.
Op. 17. Veladas Intimas, cuatro piezas para guitarra.
Op. 18. Impresiones Juveniles, vals brillante para guitarra.
Op. 19. Dos Tangos para guitarra.
Op. 20. Canto de Amor, vals de concierto para guitarra.
Op. 21. Veillées d'Automne, quatre pièces faciles pour guitare.
Op. 22. Echos de la Forêt, mélodie-valse pour guitare.
Op. 23. Mélancolie, nocturne pour flute et guitare ou deux guitares.
Op. 24. Belle, gavotte pour guitare.
Op. 25. Souvenir du Quinze Août, romance sans paroles pour guitare.
Op. 26. Les Sirènes, valse pour banjo et guitare ou deux guitares.
Op. 27. Feuilles de Printemps, six pièces très faciles pour guitare.
Op. 28. Resignation, andante pour guitare.
Op. 29. Tendresse Paternelle, mélodie expressive pour guitare.
Op. 30. Récits Champêtres, trois mélodies pour guitare.
Op. 31. L'Estudiant de Salamanque, tango-valse pour guitare.
Op. 32. Agréments du Foyer, trois pièces faciles pour guitare.
Op. 33. Les Soupirs, valse pour guitare.
Op. 34. Serenade Espagnole pour deux guitares.
Op. 35. La Danse des Naïades, mazurka pour guitare.
Op. 36. Charme de la Nuit, nocturne pour guitare.
Op. 37. Brise d'Espagne, valse caractéristique pour guitare.
Op. 38. Pensées Mélodiques, quatre pièces pour guitare.
Op. 39. Bolero pour piano et guitare ou deux guitares.
Op. 40. Souvenirs d'Antan, six menuets pour guitare.
Op. 41. Gerbe de Fleurs, quatre pièces faciles pour guitare.
Op. 42. Trois Mélodies pour guitare.
Op. 43. Rêve du Poëte pour guitare.
Op. 44. Pensées du Soir, nocturne pour guitare.
Op. 45. Terpsichore, valse pour deux guitares.
Op. 46. Soliloquio, nocturno para guitarra.
Op. 47. Urania, nocturno para guitarra.
Op. 48. Canto del Bardo, capricho para guitarra.
Op. 49. Minué para guitarra.
Op. 50. Cuatro piezas faciles para guitarra.
Op. 51. El Gondolero, melodía para guitarra.
Op. 52. La Mascarita, mazurka para guitarra.
Op. 53. Sinceridad, melodía-vals para guitarra.
Op. 54. Barcarola para guitarra.
Op. 55. El Mensajero, vals para guitarra.
Op. 56. Minué para guitarra.
Op. 57. Inquietud para guitarra.
Op. 58. Misiva Afectuosa para guitarra.
Op. 59. Balada para guitarra.
Op. 60. Adagio para guitarra.
Op. 61. La Ausencia, andante sentimental para guitarra.
Op. 62. Marcha Nupcial para guitarra.
Op. 63. Serenata Española para guitarra.

WoO.01. Mazurka para dos guitarras.
WoO.02. Ejercicio para guitarra.
WoO.03. Estudio para guitarra.
WoO.04. Nostalgia para guitarra.
WoO.05. El Amable para guitarra.
WoO.06. Vals en mi menor para guitarra.
WoO.07. Vals en la menor para guitarra.
WoO.08. Melodía para guitarra.
WoO.09. Vals original para dos guitarras.
WoO.10. Minué para dos guitarras.
WoO.tr-1. La Calesera, canción andaluza de S. Iradier para voz y guitarra.
WoO.tr-2. La Colasa, canción madrileña de S. Iradier para voz y guitarra.
WoO.tr-3. El Jaque, canción española de S. Iradier para voz y guitarra.