Gottschalk, Louis Moreau (b New Orleans, 1829; d Tijuca, nr. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 1869). Amer. pianist, conductor, and composer. His pf. début in 1844 was praised by Chopin. On return to USA toured widely, playing and conducting his own sentimental and naive mus. for unsophisticated audiences who enjoyed his virtuoso panache and his arrs. of nat. airs. Collapsed on stage in Rio after playing a piece called Morte! and died a month later. Wrote 2 operas; 2 syms.; Grande Tarantelle, The Union, and Marcha triunfal y final de opera, all for pf. and orch.; and pf. pieces such as The Dying Poet (1863-4).