Louis Moreau Gottschalk (1829 – 1869) was an American composer and pianist born in New Orleans who spent most of his performing career touring and giving concerts. He was often referred to as the greatest pianist from the “New World” whilst Chopin, Liszt and Alkan were great admirers of his talent. His compositions established him as one of the first identifiable American composers. In his music it is possible to hear a mix of American creole, African-American and European music traditions. His early works in particularly are imbued with the sounds that he heard in his youth in Louisiana . The syncopated nature of his music anticipates many of the characteristics of later American ragtime and jazz music. Manchega originates as a concert étude for piano – an etude in music is a study. Such movements are intended to improve and demonstrate piano technique and in the context of the original arrangement was intended to demonstrate his virtuoso playing. This is an intermediate level arrangement with the playback tempo of the realisation being 60 dotted quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute. The movement in ABA (Ternary form) which was very much the standard form during the romantic period. Composers needed to follow the conventions of their time to ensure the patterns of their music were readily recognized by audiences. The A section is in Eb and the B section in Gb. The repeat does not sound in the playback. There has been some re-scoring but not re-writing of the original material. This is an excellent piece for developing 3 v 2 playing which is such a characteristic element of Spanish and music based on Spanish models. The music editor suggests practicing the music slowly in the first instance so that all rhythmic shapes and patterns in and shared between the hands are secure. The use of the sustaining pedal is recommended but is not indicated in the score. In bar 34 players are required to play both a Cb and a C natural. Gottschalk’s piano writing more than suggests the influence of Chopin. As the repetitive element in the movement is strong there is an opportunity to explore articulation, tonal range and dynamics in a performance. The music editor suggests that this movement along with much of Gottschalk’s music is worth discovering particularly in arrangements where the playing level allows ready access to the music.
