Louis Moreau Gottschalk was born in New Orleans in 1829. He died in Brazil in 1869 while on an extended concert tour, probably of cholera. A short biographical synopsis is here. There is a wealth of information about L.M. Gottschalk on the web. An entire website and domain is devoted to him. You can even visit his tombstone on the web. Little can be added here.

Gottschalk is often considered the grandfather of Ragtime and Jazz. The syncopation and lilting Caribbean rythms in much of his music make the reason apparent.

Danse Ossianique is an early salon piece. Printemps d'Amour Mazurka is a somewhat later "crowd pleaser" of the sort which brought Gottschalk acclaim as a concert pianist. Give Gottschalk a listen. You'll like him.