The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1870-09-30
GotscAaik.
BrDDEro.p, 20 srpt.. IS


having on board the mortal remains Of Louis
Dec. lS, 1859.
AT the time Of his death Gottschalk was I'M
questlOnably the greatest Of American panists.
Judged by his writings, think he was also our
greatest musical genius, and, moreover, must
still be ranked such.
AS | enjoyed n very friendly acquaintance
with this great artist during the last four months
Of his life, and was also witness Of those re-
markable musical triumphs which he won at
the Brazilian capital. perhaps some additional
facts rgar,ling him in the wsy Of personal
reminscenee may not prove undressing to
your readers.
lie was, 1 believe. native Of New Orleans.
and though he had BEEN educated in Europe
and had passei most Of his life abroad. still he
was intensely American In his opinions, and
was always accustomed to speak with pride Of
his nationality. lie did not go astrsy on the
war either, I believe. although that, perhaps,
would have been parionable. considering the
facts that lis birthplace was in the south and
that outside Of our country the secession inhu-
ence everywhere preiominatei.
He always spoke with pride OF the Republic.
lie often told me that In oil his travels he had
never yet found n country, which In all that
constitutes true national greatness, could for q
moment be compared With our own beloved Amer
lea. And this was considerable for man to say
who hal passed over all Europe and through
out the two Americas. One day l met him
hurrying along in something more than his US
ually excited manner. Any one who knew him
viii remember his rapid and energetic way OF
walking. Grasping my hand he said, 81 have
just come from the palace. and have had glo-
rious talk with the Emperor. We were an hour
and half together and what do you suppose
we talked about - supposed 1t must have
been Music Of course. or perhaps Ristori who
happened at that time TO be dividing the lau-
rels with him. Nothing Of the sort, sir" he
cried. ave talked Of the United States every
moment Of the time, the Great Republic Of the
north was our subject, aud never saw q man
- intensely interested as the Emperor appear
ell 10 be all the WHILE sl"|"lF.
This incident, however, illustrates the ardent
patriotism Of Gottschalk more than anything
else; for the Emperor in conversation frequent-
ly expressed his admiration for our country and
It's institutions. Probably no persons are re-
ceivei at San Christovao with greater favor and
attention than Americans. 80.
The Braxilians have an extraordinary love for
music and seem to prefer the Piano Forte to all
instruments. To this fact undoubtedly must
be attributed something OF that wonderful sue
cess which Gottschalk achieved at Rio, o sue
cess so great that hardly anything else was
talked Of ut the time and which male his sud-
den death come like shock to the whole COM
munity. .r.r---t-,.. a.. ..
But there were other reasons for tins success
besides mere readiness to hear and ability to
appreciate him. shall always regret for the
sake OF American Musical Art that Gottschalk
had not been permitted once more to return to
the Unitel States in the full enjoyment Of his
powers, 10 that he might have shown TO those
among US best able to JUICE what astonishing
advances he had really made n player dur.
ing the last Eve years. His playing was always
brilliant, and formerly some critics had been
disposed to find fault with il as perhaps being
too dsshy in Its style. had such notion my
self while listening to him at one Of his con-
cCrts given in New York some eight years ago.
But Of late years believe he had fully out
grown any defect Of this character, and MORT
over had attained TO Car higher deyclopement
OF those leading qualities which distinguish the
great artist than had ever been noticel in him
before Thilberg hail already visited Rio, and
his pure, noble, faultless style had come to the
Braxians like revelation. Those who had
listened to him however did not scruple to as
sign even a higher place to Gottschalk in the
list Of great players. or the correctness or in
correctness Of this judgement would not pre-
sumo TO speak as never had the good fortune
10 hear Thalberg. remember very well though
how he was talkel about when among ms, and
something Of the wonderful impr ssion he ere
atctl. But the Brazilians found him personal
ly cold and passiOnless, and perhaps they were
not able to abstract the man from his work.
n, al han al
more attached to GOttschslk whose brilliant So
cial qualities made him the most charming of
companions wherever he went
His control and Management Of the instru-
ment while playing was all but marvellous. He
would make il cry anil groan and sing in q
manner 50 natural that leaning back in your
seat and closing your eyes for moment the de- |
ceit was complete. II was simply Ole Bulls
power over again, though displayed on the
piano forte instead Of the violin. His limitations
Of the banjo, the drum, the harp, Of q battle
raging in the distance, Of a storm ut sea were |
most striking. Ii was the current opinion
among the populsce OF Rio nj the time that h, |
did not play tue Piano ike other people but had
some kind Of Internal machinery inside Of the |
instrument which he managed with his feet
But although diverse opinions may be held re |
gsrling his ability as peritrmer i think there
can be only one opinion OF him as "a writer.
Though dead he yet speaketh :" and in those |
nimitable compositions, 20 full Of sweet, strange
melody-what would call in word soul mu- |
sic--there is think abundant evidence Of his |
title TO be ranked as our 6rst Piano Forte COM |
PCser.
Take the "Berceuse' or "Cradle Song for |
Instance. Who does not here recognize the |
hand of n great master not only in the wonder |
full simplicity Of the thought but in the rounded
fnllness Of harmony with which the movement |
Is sustained up TO the very close.
.srhe Last Hope" ''Tremulo." "Morte."
"Banjo" and many others are all beautiful
compositions and as they are ciiiercnt, and In
some cases widely varying, types Of musical eI-
pross.oo. - We might well conclude that the
genius of Gottschak WAS ct no common order. |
TO my own mind however "Poetical Thou hts"
is the mot beautiful Of al his productions. |
The exquisite melody Il this piece, think, has |
never been equalled by anything from our other |
artists ... .. s. |
The "Musical Independent for March last
thus referred TO the Great Artist AMI his compo-
sitOns =
.'Mcst Of his works are characterized by fresh |
AMI beautiful melodies, and very lively fancy. |
II Is In the latter that one finds opportunity to
criticre the tropical cxuoersnce 30 inharmo- /
NOUS with our Staid Anglo-Saxon ideas. |
Whether these works shall become the herr |
tige OF AFTER coming generations we do not pre- |
tent to say. For the present weonly know that
Great Artist is dead" .. ..pl
In the same Journal for this month, the cdr
tor. answering query Of some correspondent,
puts Gottschilk at the bead OF American Piano |
Forte composers. This il seems to me is his
right plice. go.
But apart from his art, he had extraordinary |
abilities, natural and acquitted. So extensive |
had been his travels and so actively engaged
had he been all the while that Il Is not surpris-
ing that he spoke Eve lsE guages aueutly. Que
night at q banquet given by him to the musical
artists Of Rio, heard him speak in English.
French, Portuguese and Spanish. remember
that in the party referred 10, Numbering less
than thirty persons in all, seven different ma
A. ,ta.l