Ferrer, Mateo

views updated

Ferrer, Mateo

Ferrer, Mateo, famous Spanish organist, teacher, and composer; b. Barcelona, Feb. 25, 1788; d. there, Jan. 4, 1864. He studied with Francisco Queralt and Carlos Baguer, then became organist (1808) and maestro de capilla (1830) at the Barcelona Cathedral, where he was active until his death. In addition, he became director of the Teatro de la Cruz in 1827, holding that post for some 30 years. He was renowned for his improvisations on the organ, and was also esteemed as a teacher. He composed a large body of music for the church and the theater, but many works are lost. His Piano Sonata (1814), publ. by J. Nin in his collection Seize senates anciennes d’auteurs espagnols (Paris, 1925), shows a certain affinity with early Beethoven.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire