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As a composer, Gottschalk was mostly self-taught. He was greatly influenced by the music of Cuba, Brazil, and the United States, which he heard during his travels. As a result, Gottschalk’s music is a unique blend of styles, and he is considered one of the first American composers.
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Gottschalk’s musical background
Gottschalk was born in New York City to French parents. His father, Jean-Baptiste Gottschalk, emigrated to the United States in 1825 from Alsace- Lorraine in France. Gottschalk began playing the piano at the age of eight. He was largely self-taught and developed his own style of playing based on his exposure to the music of Chopin, Schumann, and Liszt.
In 1849, at the age of nineteen, Gottschalk embarked on his first concert tour of the United States. For the next decade, he toured extensively throughout North and South America, becoming one of the most popular concert pianists of his time.
During his concert tours, Gottschalk played a wide variety of music, including his own compositions and arrangements of popular songs and dances of the day. However, he is best remembered for his performance of Creole melodies, which were popular with audiences in both the United States and Latin America.
The music he played at his concerts
At his concerts, Gottschalk played music that was light and cheerful, with a strong focus on improvisation. He was known for his ability to play by ear and to improvise on any given melody. Many of his pieces were based on popular tunes of the day, as well as folk tunes from various parts of the world.
The popularity of his concerts
Gottschalk was a composer and pianist who was very popular in the 19th century. He played almost exclusively at his concerts, which were very successful.
The reception of his music
The reception of his music was mixed. Some people loved it and some people thought it was too ragtime-y.
The influence of his music
Many of Gottschalk’s original compositions were written for the piano, and he was an accomplished performer on the instrument. He was one of the first pianists to play entirely from memory, which was a rare feat at the time. Gottschalk’s music often featured a playful, dance-like feel and was heavily influenced by his travels to Cuba and other countries in Latin America.
His musical style
At his concerts, Gottschalk usually played music in the styles of polkas, mazurkas, waltzes, quadrilles, and marches.
The development of his musical career
Gottschalk was a highly celebrated concert pianist in the mid-19th century, and he almost exclusively played his own compositions. He was born in New Orleans to a prosperous family of German-Jewish descent, and he began playing the piano at a very young age. He had his first public performance when he was just eight years old, and he quickly gained a reputation as a prodigy. When he was fifteen, Gottschalk set off on a concert tour of the United States, which proved to be very successful. He then spent several years touring South America, where he became very popular.
In 1857, Gottschalk returned to the United States and settled in New York City. He continued to give highly successful concerts, but he also began to compose more serious works for the piano. Many of these works were inspired by his travels, and they reflected the various cultures that he had encountered. Gottschalk’s music was highly original and was unlike anything else that was being composed at the time. His popularity continued to grow, and he became one of the most celebrated musicians of his era.
His later years
In his later years, Gottschalk played music almost exclusively at his own concerts. He was known for his skill as an improviser, and often improvised entire pieces based on a single audience member’s request.
His legacy
At the time of his death, Gottschalk was one of the most famous pianists in the world and his music was immensely popular. His compositionsspan a wide range of genres, including salon pieces, art songs, marches, waltzes, mazurkas, quadrilles, polkas, and Boleros. He was also known for his improvisational skills and often improvised entire pieces at concerts. Gottschalk’s music is characterized by its catchy melodies, rhythmic vitality, and use of popular tunes and dances. While much of his music is now forgotten, some of his works remain popular to this day and are regularly performed and recorded.
Further reading
The following are some recommended readings if you would like to learn more about Gottschalk and his music:
-The Life and Times of Louis Moreau Gottschalk by Edward Waters Fitzgibbon
-Music in New Orleans: The Formative Years, 1791-1841 by Charles E. Lyon
-New Orleans Jazz: A Family Album by Al Rose and Edmond Souchon
