Louis Moreau Gottschalk

“ One Sunday eve in Paris, as he was walking leisurely home, he heard a deep-drawn sigh, then a sob; turning round he beheld a young recruit, almost a child, bedewed in tears. His sorrow was so genuine, his grief so unfeigned, that he asked him if he could do anything to help him. "Alas, no," answered the lad; "an accident has happened to me that has no remedy, and which will bring on me such a punishment as I shall never be able to bear." "But what is it?" asked Gottschalk. ”

“ Summer passed, and when autumn came it was decided that the whole family should return to New Orleans. As long as the summer lasted, Madam Gottschalk was sorry at the prospect of quitting so charming a spot, but, when the first approach of winter brought the Indians from the depths of the forest to the neighbourhood of the dwelling, her regrets were lessened, particularly so, as one day, when greatly occupied in making cakes for dessert, her beautiful white arms being exposed, a passing Indian stopped in admiration of her beauty and made an attempt to kiss them. ”

“ An originality, marked by good taste and a little eccentricity, devoid of charlatanism, have always appeared to us the two chief qualities in an artist of true talent; we have likewise submitted ourselves unreservedly to a sentiment of sympathy and of admiration for Mr. Gottschalk from the first time that we had the pleasure of hearing him. Among our popular pianists to-day there are but few who have known how to create for themselves an incontestable individuality. ”

“ I pity those who were not present at this memorable soirée; to them one does not know how to give an idea of the unsurpassed talent of Gottschalk. Talent! I ought to say genius; for the young pianist brings into the world so encumbered with pianist composers a new form and ideas of which no one can contest the paternity with him. Gottschalk played eight pieces; five were encored in the midst of applause, which burst out after each phrase or each variation, with an electrifying effect. ”

“ The gift of universality, such as is manifested among some chosen artists, is a rare gift. The domain of Art is so immense that to embrace it in its entirety, to be perfect in each of its branches, is a thing so phenomenal, that one can understand why men of talent take up a specialty.
Under this title, we must consider the talent of Mr. Gottschalk, the young and celebrated American pianist, as a musical event. Go see him before his Erard piano, which is, parenthetically, the grandest and most formidable which has issued from these famous workshops, and which Erard has presented to him! ”

“ Pleyel's manufactory, that Gottschalk had brought together all the artists, all the fashionable world of Paris; marquises, duchesses, bankers, men of letters, and statesmen. All the salons were so full that two hundred persons could not obtain a place to be present at the fête.
There is Gottschalk; they clap their hands; the celebrated artist is prodigious; he plays with an art, a grace, a spirit, a lightness, a power, which carries off everybody, marquises, bankers, and duchesses. ”

“ Letellier managed the pedals, which his little feet could not reach. When the mass was finished, the professor took his pupil in his arms, and, going down stairs, presented him to his father, saying: "There is the most beautiful flower of my crown; if this child does not become the greatest musician in the world, sacre Dieu! my name is not Letellier:" and the good man, weeping with emotion, kissed him. ”

“ CONCERTS OF MR. GOTTSCHALK—AN ARTIST'S IMPRESSIONS.
To the Editor of the Gazette de Lausanne:
Many friends having manifested a desire to know the opinion of an artist grown gray under the harness, and being willing to acknowledge my old musical experience, will you, Mr. Editor, permit me to communicate to you the impression which the talent of our young and already so celebrated artist has produced upon me?
Behold this full hall! how many persons have not mentally exclaimed: "It is a piano, and he is nothing but a pianist!" that is true ”

“ Rumour had spoken so frequently of the young Gottschalk in the fashionable world, he had been so much applauded, that all were eager to hear him. Besides, he was an "American," and the question was asked, "Could America produce an artist?" The hall was filled to overflowing.
The anticipations of this brilliant assemblage, composed of the Parisian and foreign aristocracy, as well as of his fellow-countrymen then resident in Paris, as also of all the principal artists, were perfectly realized. ”

“ Gottschalk, full-handed, spends his life in animating and charming that public which remains in ecstasy at every piece, and while he is far from the eyes of this same public he must be seen as we have seen him, restless, disquieted, not able to be still for a moment, and when he returns to charm our ears anew, we see this young man tranquil as at first. ”

“ Once, when about entering one of those large confectioneries called restaurants in Paris, he noticed a young soldier who was standing at the window admiring and seeming ready to devour all the good things so beautifully decorated and arranged to tempt the public. The young soldier's face was so honest and he seemed so to enjoy the fruit, meats, and other things through the glass, that Gottschalk turned round and spoke to him. ”

“ Gottschalk gave at Yverdon, on the 17th inst., a second concert which was received with the same enthusiasm. As an artist, he leaves us a unique and ineffable remembrance; as a man, he has gained our hearts. No words are sufficiently powerful to express to him our profound sentiments of sympathy, gratitude, and admiration. ”

“ If he possesses only this last merit, he astonishes for an instant, then they are tired of him. If, on the contrary, he possesses only the other merits, he is ranked in the category of commonplace artists whom one seeks and loves in a small company, but who remain powerless to excite the great public who frequent concerts.
Mr. Gottschalk is one of the very small number of those who possess all the different elements of the sovereign power of the pianist, all the attributes which environ him with an irresistible prestige. He is an accomplished musician. ”

“ Moreau had attained ten years of age; his talent was so great that there was nothing further difficult for him, so Mr. Letellier candidly acknowledged that he had nothing more to teach him, and the only thing remaining to be done was to send him to France. Mr. Gottschalk, who had always cherished the thought of having his children educated in Europe, was only too happy to have a reason for it, and decided, to the great regret of his wife, that his son should leave New Orleans and go to Paris, when he should attain the age of twelve years. ”

“ Gottschalk has not as yet left Switzerland. The sojourn of the celebrated artist in this country has been a series of triumphs and festivals. There is perhaps no example of a reception as enthusiastic as that which he has received in the different cities in which he has been heard. But it is particularly in Geneva that his admirable talent has found appreciation worthy of him. After his concert for the poor the Grand Duchess of Weimar had him called by her chamberlain to invite him to visit her the next day. ”

“ Among other merits, Gottschalk's compositions have that of being very short. As soon as the pianist has finished they cry encore, and he begins again with perfect grace; or, if the inspiration commands him, instead of repeating the last melody, which flies away on light wings, he gives a new piece, more charming than the first. The audience again cry encore with all their power; they demand two pieces for one. Gottschalk plays a third for them. I shall not attempt to describe a talent so original, poetic, and marvellous. After Gottschalk il faut tirer l'échelle. ”

“ Gottschalk began to improve, and Moreau, then about three years of age, seemed to take new life amidst the beauties of nature which surrounded him; his health became invigorated, and he followed his father in all his rambles, which he, a great lover of nature, took morning and evening. ”

“ Gottschalk when he is in the presence of a civilized musical audience, is immense. There is applause, transport, which, far from causing one to feel that vexatious irritation caused by factitious, exaggerated, or ridiculous enthusiasm, of which we so often have the spectacle, one is happy to see and hear. At the concert which he gave last month in the Hall Bonne Nouvelle, the greater part of his pieces were encored. ”

“ He has a perfect grace in his manner of expressing sweet melodies and of scattering the light passages from the top of the key-board. As to prestesse, fugue, eclat, brio, originality, his playing strikes from the first, dazzles, astonishes; and the infantine simplicity of his smiling caprices, the charming ease with which he renders simple things, seem to belong to a second individuality, distinct from that which characterizes his thundering energies. ”

“ Gottschalk, greatly touched, bade the recruit to follow, and, being near the Rue de Londres, where he knew a kind and obliging tailor, he retraced his steps thither. He found the man and his family gathered together reading; he explained the case, and begged the tailor for the poor young man's sake to see what was needed to be done. The kind tailor readily complied, and with the help of his wife managed to repair the garment, and thus save the young man from his dreaded punishment, Needless to say, he paid the tailor handsomely for the time and labour he had expended. ”

“ Gottschalk, after their return to New Orleans, was to make inquiries for the best professor of the piano. Mr. Letellier, a young Frenchman, a singer of great talent at the Théâtre d'Orléans, was introduced to him, and immediately Moreau commenced the study of music. One year afterwards, Mr. Letellier, full of pride at the remarkable progress of his pupil, repeated everywhere that the little Gottschalk could read at first sight any manuscript which might be placed before him. ”

“ On these words, Quand patate la cuite na va mange li, na va mange li, the Creoles chant a short, but poetic and nonchalant motive. Gottschalk has taken the first four bars of this motive, and on this theme has embroidered all sorts of charming fantasies. The pianist vigorously attacks the Creole chant, then follows a second motive in f sharp of an original and singing rhythm. The accompaniment he makes very staccato, the middle chant, played languidly, contrasts in a strange, but deliciously poetic way, with the bass, which always energetically marks the rhythm. ”

“ Nous venons, au nom de nos camarades, vous offrir le tribut de notre reconnaissance pour la sympathie que vous avez montrée pour le malheur qui a pu atteindre certains d'entre nous par une cessation momentanée de travail occasionée par l'incendie, et vous prier de croire que notre profonde gratitude est pour toujours gravée dans nos cœurs. ”

“ Louis Moreau Gottschalk, the Pianist and Composer, and the only American master of the modern school of music, was a native of New Orleans in the State of Louisiana, in the United States of America. His father was an Englishman, born in London; his mother a Creole, born in New Orleans. It is probable, if not certain, that what rendered Gottschalk so attractive was due to the two natures which he thus inherited, for he possessed the warmth of heart which characterizes the Creole, and the dignity of manner so peculiar to the English. ”

“ One transports us to forests, peopled with rare trees which invite us to pluck and taste their fruits; another represents faithfully the indolent Creole, swinging gently in his hammock, while listening to liis little one singing again his song of another hemisphere ”

“ He commenced the concert with 'La Chasse du jeune Henri,' and finished with 'Bamboula.' He was called to repeat all his pieces, and, to content the enthusiasts who did not cease to cry encore, he added to his programme 'Moissonneuse, Bananier,' which he had to play twice, and 'God save the Queen,' which was also called for again. These taken in account, Gottschalk played fourteen times. They cried encore after 'Mancenillier,' an adorable composition, a chef d'œuvre of genius which was ten times interrupted by applause. ”

“ He has taken from one his lightness, grace, and purity; from the others, their unrestrained passion and their attractive brilliancy; and I can assure you that for a long time a pianist so original, so sympathetic, has not been seen. Gottschalk has composed several pieces, among others, one which is a chef d'œuvre. This piece he calls 'Bamboula.' I have heard this 'Bamboula' ten times; in the salons of Mme. Merlin, of Mr. Orfila, of the Marquis d'Albucenza, etc., and ten times the young artist has had to repeat it amid the warmest applause. ”

“ They had forewarned Gottschalk, who had reserved for them in the first row of seats cushions and divans of red velvet. In the middle of the soirée, the grand duchess requested, through her chamberlain, Mr. le Baron de Vauthier, to felicitate him, and as the artist, whose modesty is equal to his talent, bowed his thanks, her imperial highness took him by the hand and made him promise to give a second concert at Geneva. From thence Gottschalk will go to Aix, in Savoy, and probably afterwards to Lyons, and will return from thence to Paris, to pass the winter season. ”

“ Joyful or sad, plaintive, amorous, jealous, forsaken, solitary, fatigued, ennuied, or the heart filled with grief, the negro forgets all in dancing the 'Bamboula.' Look down there at those two black-tinted women, with short petticoats, their necks and ears ornamented with coral, le regard brulant, dancing under the banana tree; the whole of their bodies is in movement; further on are groups who excite and stimulate them to every excess of fancy ”