International Guitar Research Archives

Zani de Ferranti, Marco A. (1802-1878)

Marc Aurelio Zani de Ferranti an outstanding guitar virtuoso and also a man of letters was born in Bologna, July 6, 1802 and died in Pisa, Italy, November 28, 1878. In 1809 he was sent to Lucca in care of the Abbot Rondi to receive his education. By the age of 12 he was composing latin poetry which was read throughout his country. At this time he saw Nicolo Paganini in concert and afterwards began the study of this instrument. By the age of 16 his command of this instrument was realized. However, for some reason he abandoned the violin in favor of the guitar. During a stint as librarian for Senator Meitleff in St. Petersburg he began serious study habits with the guitar. He left this position in 1824 to begin his musical activities on guitar. With side jobs in the literary field he managed to eke out an existence in order to continue his studies with the guitar. After continuous and protracted study, he finally received his reward by discovering the art of singing in sustained tones on the guitar. After a series of concert tours he settled in Belgium and became the guitarist to the King. He was now compared to Paganini, Thalberg, Servais, and others as to musicality and technical abilities on their respective instruments. He published more than twenty works for the guitar. However, many of his works remain unpublished and reside in the Brussels library. See Bone, `Guitar & Mandolin' and S. Wynberg, `Marc Aurelio Zani de Ferranti: Guitar Works' published with Chanterelle Verlag.