José Ferrer  guitarist, composer and teacher was born in the city of Gerona
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.

Ferrer studied guitar with his father, a guitarist and collector of sheet music, before continuing his studies with José Brocá. In 1882, he left Spain for Paris in order to teach at the Institut Rudy and at the Académie Internationale de Musique. He dedicated a number of his pieces to his pupils, especially to the females.

Ferrer gave regular performances as a soloist and later taught at the Conservatori Superior de Música del Liceu in Barcelona. Following a second stay in Paris, he settled permanently in Barcelona in 1898.

His compositions were written mainly for solo guitar and resembled the fashionable salon music of his time, bearing titles such as Le Charme de la nuit (Charm of the Night) and La Danse des Naïades (Dance of the Naiads). He also wrote a method for guitar as well as duos for guitar and flute, and songs.