Napoléon Coste was born in France in 1805, a gifted guitarist who established himself as a teacher while still a teenager. He moved to Paris, where his brilliant technique placed him among the great guitarists of his generation. Sadly an accident to his arm cut short his career at the age of 57, though he was to live a further 20 years. Coste’s music was intended to give instant pleasure, uncomplicated for the listener, yet providing ample scope for performers to display their technique. He displayed great versatility when writing in the musical styles of others, and devised works of considerable charm.