Bamboula - Louis Moreau Gottschalk

[@elizabethdjokovic2691]

Gottschalk,'s music is the bridge between classical music and ragtime. It's amazing that he is barely known to modern audiences.

[@ginnychudgar9088]

I agree, Elizabeth -- I'm 74 and I was just introduced to this amazing composer's music. Where has he been all my life?!

[@SuperGen44]

I agree. I found out about him when I read The Greater Journey, Americans in Paris by David McCullough.

[@eliotguerin192]

The blessing and a curse of being ahead of one’s time. He drew upon the influences of black music because he knew it was beautiful, despite few of his contemporaries feeling the same way. Nowadays every corner of the Earth’s music is influenced by it-if only Gottschalk’s role in that development was more recognized!

[@GGibert]

Nowadays, nobody can use these words...Bamboula and Nègres are almost forbiden in french. But it was another era....

[@kkkkaps_wanna_kill_me4647]

Oh SURE 😃😊 all while using Afrocuban Habaneras and Contradanzas the........audacity

[@1After100]

Interesting blend of Cuban, Spanish, French, German and African styles in this music. Glad I discovered this. It's the roots of early American music.

[@candiceperkins7381]

He is Louisiana Creole -- which is a mix of all those things. Good ear!

[@Francois_Dupont]

what american music? RAP?

[@Ogorek69]

...and the Polish influence provided by Chopin!

[@kkkkaps_wanna_kill_me4647]

Afrocuban

[@irvelfranck9532]

The basis for the main theme was identified as a popular song of old Saint Domingue: "Quan' patate la cuite" (When the sweet potato is cooked) which Gottschalk had learned from Sally, his black Domingan governess.

[@mizanthrope7664]

Thank you for posting this. I love Gottschalk and think his music deserves a much wider audience. He is an American treasure.

[@merccadoosis8847]

+Miz Anthrope ~ Agree 100%. All too often we Americans stand in awe of European and other international artists (many of whom are well deserving of much honor). But we, like the little girl from Kansas in the "Wizard of Oz", often fail to realize the world's greatest treasures are right here in our own back yard. Gottschalk is one such treasure. His body is at rest in Brooklyn, NY. But his spirit lives on.

[@prestonianone4802]

merc cadoosis I am proud that Gottschalk is my ancestor. Oh, and his mother haunts the organ loft in a cathedral, it is quite an interesting story.

[@merccadoosis8847]

PrestonianOne Glad to know it. Please send me that story via PM. Am every eager to read it. :)

[@martinlieberman8678]

Miz Anthrope so agree with you!!

[@thomashogan16]

St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans no doubt, where he played as a child.

[@thomashogan16]

The grandfather of ragtime! Thanks.

[@jamesmiller4184]

Yep! No question! . : .

[@thomashogan4908]

@@jamesmiller4184 Hey. Tried the link you gave me. No luck.

[@gusfring9440]

First heard this piece in rdr2 and i instantly fell in love with it and now i finally managed to find it.

[@jacobswaim449]

It is a bummer that this man doesn't get held in the same light as other romantic composers like Liszt or Chopin. He is a hidden gem.

[@jamesmiller4184]

Hmmm! I think we need a feature film made all about L.M.G., his music, travels and adventures! Yeah, right along the lines of "AMADEUS". That'd do 'er! How about it, J.S.? . : .

[@ggt47]

Yes!

[@MusiqueEtLectures]

He's probably the sole artist that won't make us sad because he's coming under the lights of the actual world. It's a shame he's not more famous though, you're right. But he's our trasure.

[@pianomaly9859]

@@jamesmiller4184 Hi James......in the early '80's I saw a documentary on Gottschalk hosted by Robert Offergeld on TV. I've never seen it since. It would be great if someone found it and posted it. Mr. Spielberg, would you be interested in doing a Gottschalk biopic? Include the scene where he makes it to his steamer just ahead of the vigilantes in San Francisco.

[@amicus1766]

@@pianomaly9859 Or when he rolls his piano to the edge of the jungle to play to the night.

[@nickbochinis]

Gottschalk is rarely played, but I loved this performance.

[@wilemutt07]

I played Souvenir of Porto Rico for a local piano group. Want to resurrect it and continue learning some of these stellar compositions. I love Gottschalk!!!

[@yvonneherrera3820]

I'm learning it Now! I'm definitely learning more so underrated

[@MissAlyssaDee]

I'm learning it right now. I love it.

[@MusicBlik]

That's a fantastic piece. I had never heard of Gottschalk before "Puerto Rico" came up in my music history class in college.

[@adamvictor9124]

The best performance I can find of this piece. Too many people play the theme staccato/ without pedal which just isn't accurate according to the sheet. Not only is this more accurate but it sounds better.

[@westernfan1229]

Red Dead Redemption 2 is what got me to find this music. I love this piano music a lot.

[@MRresievil310]

When Chopin liked Gottschalk, that let everyone in Europe know that an American composer meant business.

[@jamesmiller4184]

Nicely put! I believe it.

[@MooPotPie]

EXACTLY ! And the teenage Gottschalk heard these rhythms first hand in the Congo Square of his youth in New Orleans. He is the only 19th-century concert artist to have transcribed and incorporated Afro and Latin rhythms into his music & he did so without diluting their subtlety or complexity perplexing the Germanic players of his day. His scores do not suggest the excessive pedal and rubato we hear in this video, but rather the propulsive "groove" of his source few non-jazz players can muster.

[@jamesmiller4184]

@MooPotPie, Excellent comment! Precisely true, all of it. Thanks for making that clear. It really BUGS me that Louis Moreau lived only forty years!! He was cheated of his full lot. We are lucky, I believe, to have so many life-views of the master to contemplate plus, his book as was gathered and published postmortem by his sister, to say nothing of his voluminous played and recorded output, here being found but one fine example. For all this, how good-fortuned we all are! . : .

[@eliotguerin192]

Yes, right on the money! Im aware of a great jazz pianist, Tom McDermott, who interpreted Souvenier de Puerto Rico perfectly. Of course performers can interpret Gottschalk however they want, but performances that treat his stuff in a more jazzy/funky way resonate the most with me. After all, Gottschalk’s main influence was Congo Square, and even though no recordings of that era exist, we know the music in Congo Square was highly improvisational.

[@JamesonJambalaya]

He should be brought back to New Orleans, LA his hometown instead of New York they vandalized his grave in 1959.

[@skitterymp]

To the bar senor

[@ivanbeshkov1718]

First heard of this composer in Caracas 1976. Never heard in Montevideo before that.

[@Naiqiao]

So beautiful melody...

[@williamcaloia119]

GOTTSCHALK est le premier compositeur américain reconnu en Europe. Il a écrit plusieurs hymnes nationaux lors de ses visites au Brésil et dans d'autres pays d'Amérique du Sud.

[@Shuturulsdad]

Kinda music that makes you wanna go to the bar señor

[@ggt47]

To the bar,senor!

[@LumpyZelan]

Awesome ! I visited his grave in Greenwood cemetary many years ago

[@TimustheFox]

A genius a century ahead of his time.

[@jaom181]

What a wonderful performance ! Using the Garritan Authorized Steinway, Mr.William DeWitt is great !

[@carlenamoss8955]

Thank you for posting this.

[@pianorama]

One of my favorites.

[@amparoospina562]

Hermoso, gracias

[@marydekkers4292]

Love this!!

[@jessicathedancer1]

Wonderful!

[@Mcclassic252]

Perfect on a river boat

[@Shuturulsdad]

Perfect for dressin up as dancin girls and cancanin of the side.

[@something4179]

Perfect for a poker game in a ship just outside from the port.

[@marcelnoya]

Much as I love Chopin, Gottschalk speaks even more to me. No wonder, then, that Chopin admired Gottchalk. -Marce

[@donaldbarrett4454]

This melody became the core of a wonderful ballet by Hershey Kay.

[@KrummyBrinkleJr.]

I want to imagine a bunch of 1840s people started head-banging, heavy metal style, when that part comes in at 5:20

[@ggt47]

Great piece.

[@nikolaj-1336]

I love this piece, especially the slower part from 2:50. Any tips of similar music by Gottschalk?

[@captsub]

I believe this uses the habenera rhythm throughout. Check out Henry Gilbert's Dance in the Place Congo here on youtube. It uses the same tune, to great effect, in a setting for large orchestra.

[@cecilthompson6351]

So much expertise from so many experts: too fast, too much pedal. This young pianist, modest as he is, must some day reveal himself to the fan base he has already created. Bravo to you, many times over.

[@thomashogan16]

NOT too fast.

[@theoverseer393]

@@thomashogan16 Not so fast :^)

[@edselsantos5013]

Respeito? Ainda acredito em gênios...imortais

[@ddriver49]

Thank you for commenting and taking the time to listen. Bananier will be posted by tomorrow.

[@FallenSkorm]

Very nice!

[@allatgoddess8961]

This was the first acknowledgement that there were Africans in the Americas. And the openining of he gates to Afr. music in the Society Ballrooms.

[@Drchainsaw77]

First acknowledgement? By whom? What the hell are you talking about?

[@davemahar]

He was before cakewalk and ragtime. Gershwin a good comparison.

[@PsychickPhenomena]

Have you heard of any music made in SE Louisiana?

[@TheEmpireStrikes74]

+Gavin Venable this is indeed music made in SE Louisiana . Gottschalk wrote this piece inspired by hearing the drumming and syncopated rhythms of Congo Square in New Orleans. Not sure if it was written in Paris at all. Bamboula is an African Dance that the slaves would dance on Sunday in Congo Square under the Code Nior in French , Spanish Colonial Louisiana. Tradition of drumming and dancing at Congo Square continued clear into the American period to the Civil War and beyond in other forms. When Gottschalk originally first performed it, it was thought of as so provocative and sensual the women would faint when he played it.. Congo Square en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congo_Square

[@mohammedcohen]

Gottschalk was America's first "pop music" superstar...literally an American Franz Liszt...a flamboyant virtuoso popular with the ladies - around the world - prolly the 19th century equivalent of Mick Jagger...

[@EtArcadiaego]

Gives you the impression of Young America,Wild West Salon music

[@thomashogan16]

You're thinking of ragtime. Much later.

[@jamesmiller4184]

Actually, BOTH! . : .

[@johnlorenzen4633]

Some say this the origins of jazz. Some black influenced rhythms

[@daniloberaldo570]

Amazing!!

[@YatinVadehra]

When you are a classical pianist but also a gamer, RDR2!

[@landolphe]

Leonard Pennario does a virtuoso version of this, one closer to that played by Gottschalk when he was touring. Much faster tempo.

[@suzanbrooks3086]

Landolphe D'Aquin-B MD ThD

[@stevendouglascarr5517]

In his time, Gottschalk was a rock star performer here similar to Liszt in Europe...

[@diannemullins6462]

the best american composer ever

[@paulgaskell452]

That prize surely overall goes to Duke Ellington.

[@wilemutt07]

Not too fast. Nice contrast between slow and fast sections.

[@beatlemaniac]

Red Dead Redemption 2 brought me here

[@lemoyneman3794]

Same. I was looking for the songs that played during the riverboat robbery mission

[@elPYROreal]

inspirador...

[@4yall]

Beautiful music, thank you to the uploader. Can anybody put on Nicolas Ruiz Espadero's "Chant du Guajiro?"

[@lmgottschalkophile]

Wonderful American classical music! Please put "Le Bananier" on, as well.

[@risann20]

Who from RDR2 :) ? This is my favorite piano song, really.

[@MightyNick100]

Red Dead Redemption 2 brought me here.

[@MarcM1971]

MightyNick100 Your question about this wonderful piece of music in RDR 2 brought me here...so a big "Thank you" from France mate.

[@ggt47]

Now where can I get a cocktail...?

[@Shorepoundsound]

Damn Bola !

[@daniloberaldo570]

Esse é abrasileirado mesmo! rs

[@cramptwin]

Woow!..

[@arthurbaz2]

This is my favorite version of this song, however, I can't find it anywhere else! Is that a PC performance or a real one? I really prefer the way it sounds instead of the ones in Spotify.

[@contactkeithstack]

I'm not a piano player, 6:40 sounds like 3 hands, very cool. Are you playing the bass notes and then crossing over for the very high ones?

[@eliotguerin192]

Yep! Left hand cross-overs are used constantly in this piece.

[@RayhanHarnowo]

This song is actually edge material wth, even my friend right to me eating is gooning fr btw his name is hakeem

[@ibrahimsanl6379]

Piano man plays this music in Valentine Saloon

[@ouroboros3141]

Who else is here after Red dead

[@brandonneidlinger]

Thanks to Read Dead Redemption 2 for introducing me!

[@ggt47]

4:02

[@dsindel9730]

Fantastic interpretation. Too fast.....Too fast? He's slowing it down! Listen to other versions! GACK.

[@quincarolus]

Tango Congo: BAMBULA

[@brumune]

Por ahi va la cosa, Saludos

[@ggt47]

1:27

[@agent_277]

Who else just came cause of RDR2?

[@mehdiemotion5901]

Natascha Klein please . I didn't find this in rdr 2 . It's the symphonie played at the piano saloon ?

[@agent_277]

@@mehdiemotion5901 When you play "A fine night for debauchery" where you go with Strauss Trelawny and Javier on that fancy ship in Saint denis you can hear that song in the background while playing poker

[@mehdiemotion5901]

Natascha Klein mmm i remember the mission i think i didn't give attention to the symphonie .-.

[@ggt47]

.

[@HairBilly]

c 5.3

[@LeCaptiv1]

This is TOO fast. Maybe Europeans would rush through this music so quickly, but I don't think Africans would. After all, this is African musician transplanted from that continent to America and then over to classical Europe.

[@thomashogan16]

African music!!? Are you mad? Show me any piece of "African" (from Africa) music that in any way equals this. And it is NOT too fast.

[@jamesmiller4184]

@@thomashogan16 As we know, dear T.H., there is simply no accounting for taste, good or deficient and, I second that: it is not too fast. (The captured one is now out-voted.) . : .

[@thomashogan4908]

@@jamesmiller4184 I like you J.M. Your comments are full of wit. His father was an English businessman, not a rabbi. And I believe as a young man played the organ for Masses in the cathedral in New Orleans. Cheers.

[@jamesmiller4184]

​@@thomashogan4908 Heavens! Usually I receive comments which are the extreme opposite from yours of instant, T.R. What other might I say to this as response to it, other than thank you. Just one of such as yours very occasionally, niftily makes up for all the others-disparate and cruel, as delivered. Indeed it is so! (Positivity always triumphs over the negative; time for this as manifesting being only required.) Once was I in New Orleans on stopover in 1949 while passing through on the Super Chief headed to Florida. 'Did not get to see much of course but, "Norlenes" certainly did have a uniqueness about it that I did sense and still recall. For myself dear Louis Moreau of there was THE piano ace of his day, here in the U.S. Oh yes, how he was such a lovable, larger-than-life bright spot in music compositionally, executionally and now historically! Well, in-short and sum incomparably unique! 'Twas cruel to himself and we, I believe, that he was not to receive his due "three-score and ten years," perishing into future history at just over forty of them! Well, in all ways but fleshly, this finer of human beings L-I-V-E-S O-N and, shall forever! In-return with reiterated appreciation, mega cheers to yourself dear Thomas! -- James

[@thomashogan4908]

@@jamesmiller4184 There are not two people on this earth who would know your reference "instant" means "of the current month." Wow. My "cheers" to you will be Saturday, as I give up Cognac on Fridays in Lent. A cold Catholic bro in So Cal.

[@Rozmatronicles]

Gottschalk was American

[@thomashogan16]

And a practicing Catholic.

[@jamesmiller4184]

Yes! But his father was a Jewish Rabbi and his mother a Roman Catholic. Obviously, L.M.G. benefited greatly from having been half of each! (How thus COULD he have gone-wrong? :) . : .

[@mstalcup]

The accompanying chords in the main section are too heavy and held too long, making them sound organ-like. Sounds like a MIDI sequence using samples rather than a real piano. At 4:47 it seems like you put the note F-flat into the computer when it should be an F natural, making it a D-flat major chord. A real person playing an actual piano doesn't sound like this.

[@thekichimi]

Yeah but the thing is nobody cares except you

[@jamesmiller4184]

@@thekichimi Oh! Nicely put! If I may, I'll second that? . : .

[@thekichimi]

@@jamesmiller4184 no its copyrighted

[@mstalcup]

It's public domain because of its age, just like music by Chopin.@@thekichimi

[@ggt47]

100 commment sorry really.

[@ggt47]

8:30

[@ggt47]

3:23

[@ggt47]

.

[@ggt47]

4:17

[@ggt47]

4:07

[@ggt47]

8:27

[@ggt47]

2:20

[@LudwigvanBeethoven842]

2:45

[@ggt47]

5:21

[@ggt47]

4:06