Life and Letters of Louis Moreau Gottschalk.

Boston: Oliver Ditson and Co.. Good. 1870. First Edition. Hardcover. 213pp., (2) pub. ads; 12mo; brown cloth, spine lettered in gilt. Spine faded; wear to spine ends & corner tips; small spot back cover; first signature slightly sprung. Louis Moreau Gottschalk, (b. 1829, New Orleans; d.1869, Rio de Janeiro). American composer and pianist, the first to win international fame, and the first American composer to utilize Latin American and Creole folk themes and rhythms. Second endpaper with what appears to be the ownership signature of composer: "Santiago Arrillaga, San Francisco, 24 December 1867" in a beautiful calligraphic hand, albeit a little faint. This Spanish-Basque composer, pianist, organist, and music teacher, after a long tour of Latin America, in 1875 he moved to Los Angeles, then San Francisco. Perhaps, like many he passed through the City on tour, and picked up the book in 1867 - but decided to return to stay eventually. There is an undated, pencilled note laid in, "Dear Miss Ensin (?), Prof Arrilaga (sic) will be at Maple Hall between one and two o'clock and if you desire you can play on your ??, I shall not be there before half past two, Cordially, Esther Baruch." .