Johann Kaspar Mertz

(1806-1856)

Austrian guitarist and composer. Johann Kaspar was born in Pressburg, now Bratislava, on August 17, 1806 of poor parents. He was a precocious guitar and flute virtuoso and by 1840 was living in Vienna where he had immediate success; enjoying the direct patronage of the Empress Caroline Augusta and performing in the capital. Tours to Moravia, Poland and Russia, where he played in the castle of Prince Urosoff, were followed by concerts in Berlin and Dresden. His works for the guitar enjoyed a modicum of popularity; his Concertino received 1st prize at the International Competition in Brussel in 1856. He was married to the pianist Josephine Plantin.