**This Charles Ives American composer stamp is a part of the Legends of American Music series. Make sure to check out my hub page dedicated to this long-running and important project of the United States Postal Service.
Louis Moreau Gottschalk was one of the first pianists and composers born in the United States to reach international acclaim. His music drew inspiration from the folk songs of the southern states and especially the cultural melting pot of his home, New Orleans.
Louis Moreau Gottschalk
Gottschalk was born May 8, 1829, into a large, prosperous New Orleans family. His father was from London, but his mother was French Creole from a family that came from Haiti. Of course, he began playing at an early age, and was recognized as a musical prodigy. Gottschalk made his public debut at the age of eleven in 1840. Then, two years later, Gottschalk went to Europe to pursue a traditional music education. However, the Paris Conservatoire rejected him without hearing him play, on the grounds that no good musicians could come from America. Later, family friends helped to secure him entry into the school.
Several of the greatest pianists of the era including Liszt and Alkan heard Gottschalk play. Furthermore, Chopin even predicted that Gottschalk would become “king of pianists.” In 1853, Gottschalk came back to the United States and toured the Caribbean, Central, and South America. Afterwards, he settled in New York City and became an active member of the burgeoning art scene. By 1860, he was the most famous American musician, but then in 1865 his career was marred by scandal. After getting caught in an affair with a student at the Oakland Female Seminary in Oakland, California, he fled the country. He never returned. Gottschalk died of yellow fever in December of 1869 at the age of forty.
Gottschalk’s compositions show the influence of American folk music. Pieces such as Bamboula, and Souvenir de Porto Rico exhibit rhythms and melodies that reflect sounds from the Americas. Perhaps his most famous piece, The Banjo, uses sounds from the music of enslaved Black people. This mixing of American folk music with classical forms and harmonies presages the music of Dvorak, Gershwin, Copland, and Bernstein.
The Stamp
The Louis Moreau Gottschalk stamp was a part of eight stamps feature classical composers and conductors. The stamps were first available on September 12, 1997. The designs for these stamps were by Burton Silverman and by and large, they are better than other stamps in the Legends series. Many of the stamps in other sets are cartoonish, whereas the classical composers and conductors are more traditional portraits. The Gottschalk stamp is perhaps my least favorite, depicting him looking over his shoulder off into the distance, with wind-messed hair.
Fred Collins Cachet
I also have a beautiful hand-decorated cachet with a first day of issue cancellation. The overall image is drawn in ink, then watercolors are hand-painted to complete the work. On this envelope, Gottschalk stands right in the middle dressed in nineteenth century concert attire. His facial expression is kind of a satisfied half smile, maybe he has just finished performing. Over his right shoulder is a grand piano from perhaps the 1830s or 40s. To his left can be seen an audience cramming into a concert hall to see one of his performances.
Fred Collins began making hand decorated cachets in 1978 and is well known throughout the philatelic community for his specialized pieces. He makes a new design for each U.S. stamp issue and limits the run of his designs to a few hundred. You can see more of his work on his website.
Of course, you should check out some of Gottschalk’s music. Below, is his Souvenir de Porto Rico played by Simon Ghraichy. Enjoy!
