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.