Search - Louis Moreau Gottschalk, Cecile Licad :: Louis Moreau Gottschalk: Piano Music

America's First Feelgood Music

J Scott Morrison | Middlebury VT, USA | 06/19/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"New Orleans-born Louis Moreau Gottschalk (1829-1869) was America's first verifiable touring piano virtuoso; in his heyday he drew crowds like a rock star of today. And he was a composer of a raft of piano music as well, although in some current classical music circles it is looked down on just as that of his much-later successor, Scott Joplin. The reason for this is simple to understand: the music is based on vernacular forms and is immediately easy to understand and respond to. Plus, it swings. Can't have that!This disc features a pianist I've long admired, the Filipina Cecile Licad. [A personal side-note: One of her Chopin-filled recitals was the last I was able to take my mother to before her death. My mother had been my first piano teacher, and Licad played a number of pieces Mother had taught me. We both knew she was dying and the music brought tears to our eyes again and again.] One wouldn't immediately think of Licad being attracted to this music, but she explains in the booklet that the Spanish influence still felt throughout the Philippines makes her to respond emotionally to the Latin-influenced [Creole] music of Gottschalk. This disc contains much of the familiar music by Gottschalk (e.g., Le banjo; Bamboula; Le bananier) but also a fair amount that is less-heard (e.g. The Union, a paraphrase on the Star-Spangled Banner, Yankee Doodle, and Hail Columbia; Souvenir de Porto Rico; an arrangement of the 'Jota Aragonesa' familiar to us from pieces by Glinka and Albéniz, among others). 'Souvenirs de Andalousie' has that familiar bass line made familiar by Lecuona's still-popular 'Malagueña.' This program is all played with immaculate technique and suave musicality. Some pianists tend to play Gottschalk in a 'how-fast-can-I-play-it-and-impress-the-heck-out-of-you' style; not Licad: she's making real music here.This is yet another winner from Naxos's triumphant American Classics series. Enthusiastically ecommended.Review by Scott Morrison."

Buy this now!

offeck | New York, NY -- United States of America | 08/30/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It may not be exactly what you're used to, but so what, open your ears. Cecile Licad actually makes some wonderful music where other pianists have barely warranted listening, let alone captivated me ("Bamboula" and "La savane") or made me envious ("Le Bango" and "Tremolo"). Great sound, great price -- get one for all your friends!"

An exuberant blazing Gottchalk interpretation

noel g | Mississippi | 09/19/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Ms. Licad's Gottchalk interpretations on her latest CD is a pioneering effort in presenting the essential Gottchalk. She could have opted for the "safe and traditional " molded from other previous interpretations. But on this CD, she has opened a whole new world about the possibilities of Gottchalk's music who typifies the wondrous cultural influences here in the United States. Her performance is riveting, exuberant, blazing,virtuosic and always with a keen individual musicality that manages to always pay homage to what is essentially Gottchalk's. That is a feat in itself. I highly recommend this CD which should be CD of the Year.
Noel"