Who composed what???

[Shagdac]

I have what is probably a really stupid question, and am somewhat embarassed to even ask, but I really want to know.....

I made an idiot out of myself recently at a recital when the last performer played Liszt's Spanish Rhapsody. I thought they had finished the piece, they had stopped playing, rec'd ovation, and left the stage, coming back for twice for standing ovations. About 1 1/2 minutes later, they returned sat down at the piano and began playing what "I" assumed to be another piece...although in the program it only stated they were playing 1 piece..the Spanish Rhap. Anyway, when they began playing this....I immediately thought they were playing a Gottschalk piece (if you don't know, he's my favorite) as I heard many parts of many of his pieces in what she was playing. I asked several people around me what it was....none of them knew and seemed as puzzled as I was. It almost sounded like a gottschalk "Melody of Hits". Anyway, I absolutely loved this and was determined to find out the name of this piece. I went in the back, and managed to locate this perfermer and when I asked what the last piece she played was...(well, lets just say that I got an extremely rude to say the least answer, but guess I deserved it as it was quite clear my question was so stupid). Anyway, she was playing the Spanish Rhapsody. Why she got up and left and came back to finish, I have know idea...and not being familiar with that piece I didn't know it was not 2 seperate songs. I just thought the program had an error in it, as many of the performers had made last minute changes. But she had not played 2 different pieces....both parts were spanish Rhap. Alot of others were also unaware, unfortuately I was the only one stupid enough to ask. Anyway, I complemented her on playing, and told her I loved it.....(think she too infuriated by my stupid question to care at that point)....but now I'm curious to know.....The ending parts of Liszt's Spanish Rhapsody DO contain alot of gottschalk's music...it has several parts from various pieces he composed. I'm wondering are ending parts of Gottschalk's Bamboula and Tremolo and several others played in other pieces as well by other composers? Is this a style that was used by many, or was it borrowed? I guess I'm confused how the SAME music/melody, etc can be in a piece written by Listz, when the exact same melody/piece is in several pieces claimed to have been composed by Gottschalk?

Can anyone clear this up for me? Again, sorry if it's really dumb of me not to know, but the end of that piece (Spanish Rhap) does not sound like Liszt, it sounds just like Gottschalk who composed much earlier.
Although I was certainly reprimended for daring to ask such a stupid question, I felt alittle better knowing many around me thought the exact same thing!

Also, is it common for a performer to stop at one point during a piece, receive applause, leave the stage, and come back and finish the same piece? Thanks for any help on clearing up my confusion.

Thanks,
S

[liszmaninopin]

I really wish I could help you, but I can't think of any other works or composers that have themes in common with Gottschalk.  Perhaps someone else might be more knowledgeable in that regard,

However, I would just like to comment that you shouldn't feel ashamed for asking a question like that, if there was legitimate cause for confusion.  You have some knowledge of the piano, that combined with the confusion of others around you shows that something was not correct in the program.  The person who should be ashamed was the performer for behaving in such a fashion.  I'm inclined to feel that, no matter how stupid a question, if it's legitimate, one should not mock or belittle it, and I gather that's what the performer did to you.  Don't feel bad about it.

[donjuan]

The ending of Spanish Rhapsody sounds like Liszt, alright.  What I cant understand is why they would separate it into two performances.  It ruins the music and dramatic effect of the return of the original melody.  I dont know why the performer would act so rudely...Was the performance successful?  Sometimes, if I finish playing, and I know I didnt do that well, I REALLY dont want to hear any praise, because it feels like they are all patronizing me.  Was this the case, S?
donjuan

[joell12068]

It doesn't make sense to divide up Liszt's Spanish Rhapsody like that.  At least two "themes" in the Spanish Rhapsody were borrowed by Liszt and several other composers.  The Spanish Rhapsody has a theme from "La folia" which was used by Corelli, and a theme called "Jota aragonesa" which was used by Glinka, and by Gottschalk in his piano piece he named "Jota Aragonesa".  This is possibly the Gottschalk piece you are referring to.  I'm not sure who the actual composers of these two themes are.

[Stolzing]

Maybe she had to powder her nose?    

[donjuan]

Judging on the way she behaved towards Shagdac, she should have taken a break to have a huge stick taken out of her butt..

[Shagdac]

Thanks guys,

HAHAHAHA....Thanks for the laugh DJ!
Yes, it had parts of La jota aragonesa, Caprice espagnol, Op. 14 which (I thought) was composed by Gottschalk. I have no idea why she stopped and then came back. As I was not familiar with the Spanish Rhapsody by Liszt I was unaware that both parts were the same piece.

Maybe she ran out of stamina and needed to catch her breath....it seemed to be an awfully taxing piece. I hope to learn it sometime. Having not heard it before I couldn't say if it was played successfully or not, however she did not place in the competition at all, but did make it to the finals.....that was her "finals" piece.
She may have just been to pumped up at the time since she had just finished playing. I probably should have waited to have approached her, but I was so in awe of her playing and excited that possibly this was a Gottschalk piece that I actually had not discovered yet. Oh well, at least now I know.

I appreciate your help. Thanks much!

S