Born in New Orleans of French and Creole parentage today in 1829, Louis Moreau Gottschalk took Europe by storm as a child prodigy, played for Chopin and Liszt, and returned home to fame and the grueling life of a concert pianist.  Despite his southern origin, his sympathies lay with the Union.  His journal, published after his death as “Notes of a Pianist” provides a fascinating view of life in America on the home front during the war:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0691127166/wwwgelfertnet-20

For more information about Gottschalk, see:

http://www.naxos.com/composerinfo/Louis_Moreau_Gottschalk/21106.htm

For an example of Gottschalk’s compositions, you could do worse than starting with Richard Alston’s performance of “The Union,” a piece that may have done more for the northern war effort than any given brigade:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lli2DL2oAPE

For an example of one of Gottschalk’s most popular “American” pieces, check out this clip of  “Bach Scholar” playing “Le Banjo”:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3rL23IdbyI&feature=related

Enjoy!  And happy birthday, Louis Moreau!

Thanks Mike,

This wasn't a wasted day. I learned something new.  

My wife thinks I'm officially insane now and, it's Mike's fault. We wre watching the special on Lincoln and the Gettysburg Address. My wife made a comment about how good the animated Lincoln looked. I replied, It's not bad but his pen and nib aren't period. Besides, Lincoln ususally wrote his drafts in pencil. Boyo, did that get a look.

Oh yeah -- blame ME  

Gottschalk's journal is a kind of treasure of unexpected observations.  The man spent most of his life on tour, going wherever his manager thought they could turn some coin.  He played in all the big cities, but also the smaller ones along the way, and he always has something to say about the trains, hotels, and audiences.  

Sometimes he's overwhelmed by the favorable attention in unlikely places; sometimes he gets something like this:

"Adrian, Michigan, January 8, 1864.  Infamous concert.  Seventy-eight dollars!  The people say that they prefer 'a good Negro show.'  They are furious at the price for admission -- one dollar.  A singular American characteristic!  They insult us as if we forced them to pay...."

Or,

"Buffalo, March 23, 24, and 25 [1865].  Charming concert.  Kind audience.  I love Buffalo and Rochester, these are two cities in which I always play with pleasure.  Syracuse is cold.  I have never obtained there a large audience.  The last concert was a 'chilly affair.'  That is what the newspapers say.  It rightly adds that the audience and the artist parted mutually disgusted with each other...."

Some orchestral pieces that kind of rock, too:

"Grand Tarantelle"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylzeEpZNgmI&feature=related

Proto-lounge lizard special, "Souvenir de Havane" by a Norwegian ragtime combo:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yz9Y1rB7r0Q

The same group, ratcheting it up for "Manchega":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSjhUBu2DyU

And -- not orchestral, but Gottschalk's transcrïption of Wagner's Tannhauser Overture for 16 (!) pianos: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOU_bgZX65U

ACW music -- it's not all Stephen Foster and minstrelry...

Enjoy!