New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1853-04-04

LUUIO M. UU
Louis NJ Gottschalk was born in the year
1929, in New Orleans, and is, consequently,
and is, consequently, now twenty three years of
age. From his tenderest infancy, he showed
decided indications of musical genius At the
age of twelve, he was such proficient on
the piano that his professors had nothing fur
ther to teach him, and his father determined to
send him to France, to perfect himself under
the great masters of his art, and also to i'm
prove his literary education, which, as we shall
further see, was by no means neglected Scarcely
had he been a student in Paris more than three
years, before he became favorite Of the first
salons Of that great capital; and hardly
soiree was given in the aristocratic circles with
out Gottschalk. In 1S45, our young artist
known then under the appellation Of the young
American Pianist--gave his first public concert
in the Sale Pleyel, to which he invited all the
aristocracy Of Paris, foreign princes and embas-
sadors, vast numbers Of Americans, and all the
celebrated artists and authors. His success was
immense; he was applauded with rapture and,
at the finale of piece of Chopins, played by
him, that celebrated pianist and composer, who
had from side door listened to him, came for
ward, and, shaking his hand, said to him, " Well
From that day, Gottschalks reputation was
fixed. Chopin's appreciation was conservation
which no one dare to dispute From that day
he ranked in the artistic world.
In 1e46, Gottschalk began to compose
His first productions were a Polka de Sa-
Ion, Ossian Ballad, rLai du dernie,
minstrel, grand waltz, grand Etude de
Concert. In lS47 he composed rBan,5ouie
which is played all over Europe, admired lik,
most of his compositions, for originality, ant
called by artists a chef d'eupre Shortly after
its production, Marmontel, Professor at the Con
servatoire, put it under study by his pupils and
to be played for the prize, and our young coun-
tryman was chosen to be one of the judges at
the distribution of prizes, being than only
eighteen years old. The young page was dubbed
a knight.
In the fall and winter of 1848 the celebrity of
our young rirtaoso increased further still; and
in the public concerts, as we'll as in the private
reunions of lS4S to 1850, his performance and
his compositions met with storm of enthusiasm
The Paris journal, La France Musicale of
the 10th of January, 1850, says there is not
pianist who does not render homage to the
originality, elegance and genius of Gottschalk
After listening to the Bamb0uia, it would be
difficult to find piece more original and more
brilliant. Well, let Gottschalk play the Bana-
nier-that caprice, which is an entire poem
and you will acknowledge that it is not possible
to exceed 1t in the elegance of its motceS OF the
variety of the effects. He was obliged TO repeat
it at his last concert, amid the tumultuous ap-
plause of the entire auditory. This masterpiece
had been played by him in Paris in seventy
public concerts, and every time eneorcd. Its
success was such that il was prated by editors
in London, Mayence, Brussels, Milan, Berlin,
Leipzig, Madrid and Geneva. His compositions
are now sought after with an avidity unprece-
dented. Notwithstanding that his editors had
already made large sale of that piece, q pub
Usher came from Lyons to offer to Gottschalk
S2o0Osfor the copyright of lie Bam6oula and lie
Bdndnier, but the Paris editors, who had the
copyright, replied that $4,000 would not buy
them Gottschalk's compositions in these latter
years were the .NancenHlier, Jerusalem, LIE
Songe dune unit d Etc, LIE Danse OssiRigaro,
Etudes de Concert, lie .U0issonusc, Grand
False, and various mazourkas and studies
The winter had been series of Joys and tri-
umph for Gottschalk, but he had not passed
through the hard labor and many excitements,
without suffering somewhat in health. lie re-
solved at once to leave Paris and seek repose and
rest in Switzerland AT the close of July, he
| arrived in the Canton de Vaud and took up his
residence with an amiable family, who received
him with much pleasure, but the calm for which
he longed, lasted but a few days. Scarcely had
his arrival been known, before dcputation after
deputation came to him from Geneva The mem
bers Of the Conservatoire, Of that city, came to
him in body, to beg that he would play in
Geneva, were it but once. 1t was impossible to
| resist such tiattering demand, and Gottschalk
consequently promised. In fulfllment of his
promise, he gave q magnificent concert in the
Sale de Casino The difetfdnti of the surround
ing country came in crowds to hear him, and
| such was the demand for tickets, that in a few
hours all were sold. The applause, the encores
| the shower OF flowers, proved how the Genevese
appreciated the marvellous talent of Gottschalk
AT this concert was present the sister-in law oi
| the reigning monarch, the Emperor Nicholas
and sister to the King of the Belgians, the grand
| Duchess Ann of Russia The Princess was de-
| lighted, and testified her admiration openly and
| decidedly. After the first part Of the concert
| the Baron de Bach, first Chamberlain of the
| Princess, sought out the charming pianist, and
conducted him to his Imperial Highness. She
| complimented him with much graciousness, gave
him her hand to kiss, and invited him to visit her
After the concert, the Princess, whose delight
| had increased more and more, sent him, by hei
Chamberlain the exquisite bouquet which sh,
carried, and all the ladies Of her court initiated
| her example.
After the warm reception he had met with il
Geneva, it was impossible for him to escape witt
one concert. He yielded to the repeated solici
tations of the people, and gave second one OIL
the list August, 1850, after rapid but happy
excursion to the Baths of AK. The enthusiasm
was by far greater than that exhibited by til,
first audience, and they would have given th
world to have retained Gottschalk with them
His generosity still prevented his departure
They had spoken to him of the poor, and he re
manned some days longer in the country 0
| Rousseau, to give a concert for their benefit
which proved very profitable. OF all of Cots
chalk various successes, his greatest triumph
have been in acts which prove that the goodnes
of his heart is equal to his genius. Thus W
find him shortly after, in passing through
small town, giving concert for the benefit
an asylum for old men, which had not the meal