The Italian composer and pianist Mario Tarenghi (1870-1938) is part of the great romantic music tradition of Lombardy, where the piano occupies a favoured place. At first glance, his piano production would seem to be characterised by collections consisting of short pieces with a strong melodic vein and a deliberately morose virtuosity intended for domestic use, sometimes almost pedagogical, rather than for large concert halls; for this reason, the few piano scores reissued in the present day are only included in a few anthologies for beginner pianists.

Despite the publishing success of his music during his lifetime, Mario Tarenghi is still a little-known figure on the Italian and international music scene and, a hundred years later, even recordings of his music are still virtually non-existent.