Souvenir de Porto Rico, Op. 31, is a musical composition for piano by American composer Louis Moreau Gottschalk written from 1857 during a tour in Puerto Rico. Dedicated to the Dutch piano virtuoso and salon music composer Ernest Henry Lubeck, and published in Mainz circa 1860 with the subtitle of Marche des Gibaros, it is based on the Christmas folk song 'Si me dan pasteles, denmelos calientes', performed by local peasants known as J�baros.

The piece makes use of Latin-American and Afro-American melodies and rhythms almost fifty years before early ragtime and jazz would popularize its use.Souvenir de Porto Rico was written in the last trimester of 1857, when of Gottschalk's stay at the sugar plantation of English-born Mr. Cornelius Cartwright, in Plazuela. At the time, Gottschalk was on vacation with singer Adelina Patti and her father. He would decide not to leave Puerto Rico, but instead remain there for weeks. During this period he composed a number of additional pieces after the local musical styles.Gottschalk would say about the setting where he composed the piece: "[I was] perched upon the edge of a crater, [and] my cabin overlooked the whole country. Every evening I moved my piano out upon the terrace, and played for myself alone, everything that the scene opened up before me inspired. It was there that I composed 'Marche des Gibaros.'.

ISBN 9783750256606, 8.3 x 11.7 inches, English, German.

Music essences were inspired by the idea of developinga piano book that is not a piano school but offers new pieces next to the oldclassics. So you can expand your repertoire for every occasion.

The title describes the pieces as very compressedmusic ideas, or even impressions. They can be musically developed and expandedin mind. Even extended interpretations are conceivable, both in playing and interms of instrumental arrangement.

Waltz No. 1

This Piano Sonata in G major has a light, liltingmelody and a midsection that underscores the style of a waltz. It is a verylively and dynamic piece. The mood is enhanced by a few diffuse moments, whichsupports the arc of suspense.

Impromptu

Based on Franz Schubert, this impromptu is inspired bythe trio of the fourth part of Opus 90 from 1827. The style has been expandedand reinterpreted with modern elements. The theme increases to the upperoctaves and culminates in a new theme in the midsection. It ends with a solemnmood.

Summer

Originally it is the theme of my first symphony forchorus and orchestra, third Movement. In this arrangement for piano, it is themelody that is intensively underlined and expressed.

2nd Intermezzo

In the beginning this piece is like a nocturne byFrederic Chopin, But the midsection is based on the midsection of the secondintermezzo, opus 118 by Johannes Brahms from 1893. Mood, harmony and style ofthe midsection are also inspired by the soundtrack from "PearlHarbor" by Hans Zimmer.