Souvenir De Porto Rico, op.31 by Gottschalk

Souvenir de Porto Rico was written in the fall of 1857 at a sugar plantation just outside the village of Barceloneta, Puerto Rico. At the time, Gottschalk was on vacation with singer Adelina Patti and her father. Gottschalk would decide not to leave Puerto Rico, but instead decided to remain there for what would become another five years. During this period, he composed a number of additional songs that took after the local musical styles.
Gottschalk had this to say about the setting where he composed Souvenir de Porto Rico: "[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.'

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Music

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• Souvenir De Porto Rico
• op.31 by Gottschalk

[james4piano]

Could you please verify that the second note in the off-beat syncopation starting at 1:25 is supposed to be an E-flat? The sheet music that's available online shows the first two measures to go from E-flat to C-flat, though in every recording I've heard, it goes from an octave of E-flats to another E-flat. Sounds better, but is not as written. Does the music you studies against show differently? Starting to learn this piece and noticed what I was playing was different than what I've heard.

[TseeBaeng]

Absolutely amazing performance of such a great song. Thanks for getting this up on YouTube.

[tboner4me]

Wonderful interpretation. Great phrasing and very musical. Thank You!

[Estevarium]

this is one of the most ingenious pieces for piano Ive heard. The syncopated runs of the main theme almost make you get up and dance!

[guardchica]

Love it! Your interpretation is amazing!

[glojet111]

Nice interpretation. I like the tempo you're taking compared to others on youtube.