In 1855, Louis Moreau Gottschalk, at age 26, began a series of concerts in Central and South America, which he took by storm. Two pieces from 1855 clearly show his new interest.
This little polka gives the listener a look into the dance styles of the era.
This is one of Louis’ best known pieces, which quotes the chorus from Stephen Foster’s “Camptown Races” at the end. The pianist is Lincoln Mayorga, who worked as a session pianist in Los Angeles during the Fifties as a teenager. For those with long memories, Mayorga played piano on the famous Four Preps tunes “Big Man” and “26 Miles”. He’s carved out a niche as a pianist playing the music of American composers.
This 1857 piece is a lot of fun.
In 1857, Louis decided to settle in Puerto Rico which he would use as his home base for the next five years. This is one of his best and most beloved pieces, with its hint of Indian and Spanish rhythms. Once you hear it, you can’t get that tune out of your head.