Musical Characteristics And Performance Interpretation Of Gotteschalk’s Andalusian Memorial

Louis Moreau Gottschalk(May 1829--December 1869)was one of the first early American musicians and pianists to gain worldwide fame and was one of the pioneers who introduced native American musical elements into his music.The Memorial of Andalusia studied in this paper is one of the representative works created during his tour in Spain,which well reflects the perfect integration of nationality and romance.This paper is divided into three sections,which are characterization,musical characteristics and interpretation,in order to understand the work in depth.In the first chapter,we will learn about the composer’s background and musical career.In the second chapter,the background of the Andalusian Memorial is introduced,and the musical characteristics of the work are discussed,and its structure is explored in depth.The third chapter is devoted to the interpretation of the work in four aspects: the intensity of playing,the technique of touching the keys,the special sound and the pedal.It is hoped that readers can have a clearer understanding of the creation style and performance techniques of this piece.