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Napolean Coste

(1806-1883)

Guitarist-Composer Napolean Coste was born in provincial France in 1806. He received his first guitar lessons from his mother. He began his teaching and performing carreer as a teenager. He moved to Paris in 1830. While there, he studied with Fernando Sor and became friends with Aguado, Carcassi and Carulli. He quickly established himself as the leading French virtuoso guitarist. Coste had difficulty finding patrons and publishers for his compositions. His success as a performer and teacher allowed him to fund his own works. Coste composed approximately fifty works, including some compositions for the 7-string guitar. He was also one of the first guitarists to transcribe seventeenth century music to modern notation and is chiefly responsible for reviving interest in baroque guitar music. He was forced to quit performing in 1863, when a broken arm left his right hand incapacitated. Coste died in Paris in 1883.