Gottschalk, Louis Moreau, << GOTS chawk, LOO ee moh ROH >> (1829-1869), was the first internationally famous American musical artist. He was best known during his lifetime as a pianist. Since his death, his reputation has grown as a composer, especially of piano pieces.
Gottschalk toured widely as a concert pianist. He was probably the first North American pianist to perform in Central and South America. He used elements of Latin American, Spanish, and Caribbean music in his compositions. Gottschalk was born in New Orleans on May 8, 1829, and many of his works reflect the Creole and black folk music heritage of that city. Particularly notable is his “Louisiana Trilogy” for piano—Bamboula, Le bananier, and La savane (all composed during the 1840’s). A number of his piano compositions have distinctly American themes, such as The Banjo (about 1855), Columbia (1859), The Union (1862), and The Battle Cry of Freedom (1863). He also wrote such popular sentimental piano pieces as The Last Hope (1854). He died on Dec. 18, 1869.
