Another discovery is Leisner’s own Nel Mezzo: Sonata, which Soundboard magazine called "an original and profoundly personal work...powerful, angry and moving music". Now played quite a bit, the music of Johann Kaspar Mertz (1806-1856) was virtually unknown when Leisner recorded and published some of his music almost 30 years ago. Here, two of Mertz’s pieces display the passionate Romanticism of this music. The classics include the sublime Prelude, Fugue and Allegro by J. S. Bach, two delightful Rags by Scott Joplin in Leisner’s arrangements, and a dazzling encore of Etude No. 12 by Villa-Lobos.

Leisner introduces each piece informally and is interviewed during intermission by Andrew Dickenson. The interview covers a number of topics in depth, including some of Leisner’s secrets about easing physical tensions while playing the guitar, and his thoughts about the music he’s playing and about composition.