Matteo Carcassi

Bio

Matteo Carcassi (1792–1853) was an Italian guitarist and composer whose works remain central to the classical guitar repertoire. Born in Florence, he studied guitar and composition locally before establishing himself in Paris, where he taught and performed throughout the 1820s and 1830s. His pedagogical collections, including the widely used Méthode complète pour la guitare, op. 59, and numerous etudes, helped standardize technique for generations of players. Carcassi’s compositions—chiefly short character pieces, variations, and sonatas—blend the clarity of the Classical style with the emerging lyricism of early Romanticism.