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/AS...wgelfertnet-20

For more information about Gottschalk, see:

http://www.naxos.com/composerinfo/Lo...halk/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=-3rL2...eature=related

Enjoy! And happy birthday, Louis Moreau!