‘An American composer, bon Dieu!’

With this strapline Hyperion issued what was expected to be a one-off disc of Gottschalk. Over the course of the succeeding decade popular success has developed the project into the first complete recording of the composer’s output for solo piano—now well on its way to completion with the release of this seventh volume.

Ever the opportunist, Gottschalk wrote several of the more ‘crowd-pleasing’ miniatures on this disc under the pseudonym of ‘Seven Octaves’, even dedicating one of them to ‘To my dear friend L.M.Gottschalk’! But the works professional pride may have persuaded him to disown at the time have inevitably become favourites with posterity. The closing piece of this recital, God save the Queen, further betrays the hand of the master-entertainer: a tune popular across America (to a variety of texts including ‘God save America’, ‘God save George Washington’ and, latterly, ‘My country, ’tis of thee’) and the national anthem of at least eight European states at the time, Gottschalk found in his idiosyncratic arrangement the most appealing of travelling companions.

All of the music on this album is also available as part of the specially priced box set Gottschalk: The Complete Solo Piano Music: ‘There are some fine Gottschalk albums out there, but Martin’s is the only complete survey of the composer’s works for solo piano. Not only that, he has a unique affinity for this music that shines through in every bar … Martin reminds us just how consistently assured and interesting Gottschalk’s keyboard writing really is. Indeed, that’s why I found it so easy to listen to all 109 tracks in a single day. Sensitively planned and lovingly played, this set contains some of the most varied and enchanting piano sounds imaginable … a must-buy for pianophiles and LMG fans alike’ (MusicWeb International).