A few years ago I heard Mr K play this in an 18th century concert hall in Steinfurt (Germany), called 'Il Bagno'. With a touch of humor he had put 'The Banjo' on his program. I could not see his hands, but I had to laugh out loud, so much piano!
This is an interesting take on Gottschalk's piece, but it is lightyears from Gottschalk, and lightyears from Gottschalk's, or even present day New Orleans, from which the piece is derived. Nobody--in Louisiana anyway--plays a banjo like this: it's not a Prokofiev toccata, martellato. LMG's age has vanished, but one could listen to, eg, Professor Longhair, and get a better sense of what it's supposed to sound like. In NOLA they say, "He's not wrapped too tight." They walk around with their drinks in their hands. Having said that, still fun to hear Katsaris play it like an etude. This piece is hellishly hard with those leaps! Bravo Katsaris.
Ivan Davis is the go-to person for Gottschalk's remarkable and heretofore neglected piano pieces. He can play them, and he's from the American South: he understands them.
Gottschalk was born in New Orleans to a merchant father and a Haitian mother: he immigrated to Europe. He was highly regarded by Alkan and Liszt, and Chopin is supposed to have told him that he would some day be 'the greatest European pianist' (!). He died when he was about 40. He was the first American international music star, contemporary with Paul Morphy.
I reckon LMG would've loved this but the original is sufficient when played well. It's almost as if this guy thinks he's better than that. He's really not.
Again... like always... speechless... his craft is beautiful!
A few years ago I heard Mr K play this in an 18th century concert hall in Steinfurt (Germany), called 'Il Bagno'. With a touch of humor he had put 'The Banjo' on his program. I could not see his hands, but I had to laugh out loud, so much piano!
Great arrangement! The Banjo wants to be arranged, it's so open to it.
Lovely ending!
Awesome
Si concordo.
Semplicemente un genio.
Simone Pionieri
@superjam18: No, he was born in New Orleans.
Genious!!
like the A natural 'blue' notes!
Look, China has some of the best audiences.
The largest ones
the string of the banjo are under electricity, 100.000 volt 💀
This is an interesting take on Gottschalk's piece, but it is lightyears from Gottschalk, and lightyears from Gottschalk's, or even present day New Orleans, from which the piece is derived. Nobody--in Louisiana anyway--plays a banjo like this: it's not a Prokofiev toccata, martellato. LMG's age has vanished, but one could listen to, eg, Professor Longhair, and get a better sense of what it's supposed to sound like. In NOLA they say, "He's not wrapped too tight." They walk around with their drinks in their hands.
Having said that, still fun to hear Katsaris play it like an etude. This piece is hellishly hard with those leaps! Bravo Katsaris.
@Laudan08 They laughed because it was funny. It was also deliberate.
Ivan Davis is the go-to person for Gottschalk's remarkable and heretofore neglected piano pieces. He can play them, and he's from the American South: he understands them.
My last name is Gottschall
3:15 People laugh because he missed. MR KATSARIS CAN'T MISS NOTES!
I agree - that was totally planned. :p
I think he did that on purpose - he has a touch of Puck.
I forgot to mention: F# major is the lazy man's key.
so was gotsschalk an immigrant?
Gottschalk was born in New Orleans to a merchant father and a Haitian mother: he immigrated to Europe. He was highly regarded by Alkan and Liszt, and Chopin is supposed to have told him that he would some day be 'the greatest European pianist' (!). He died when he was about 40. He was the first American international music star, contemporary with Paul Morphy.
krusty the clown at his finest
I reckon LMG would've loved this but the original is sufficient when played well. It's almost as if this guy thinks he's better than that. He's really not.
Genious!!