''Great Galloping Gottschalk'' is a contemporary

ballet Ballet () is a type of performance dance that originated during the Italian Renaissance in the fifteenth century and later developed into a concert dance form in France and Russia. It has since become a widespread and highly technical form ...

with choreography by

Lynne Taylor-Corbett Lynne Taylor-Corbett is a choreographer, director, lyricist, and composer. She was born in Denver, Colorado. Life Lynne Taylor-Corbett grew up in the Denver, Colorado area, gaining her first exposure to dance through her mother, a pianist for ball ...

, set to the music of American composer

Louis Moreau Gottschalk Louis Moreau Gottschalk (May 8, 1829 – December 18, 1869) was an American composer and pianist, best known as a virtuoso performer of his own romantic piano works. He spent most of his working career outside the United States. Life and care ...

. It premiered with the

American Ballet Theatre American Ballet Theatre (ABT) is a classical ballet company based in New York City. Founded in 1939 by Lucia Chase and Richard Pleasant, it is recognized as one of the world's leading classical ballet companies. Through 2019, it had an annual ei ...

(ABT)''Ballet: Great Galloping Gottschalk''
''New York Times,'' May 3, 1982. at the Miami Beach Theater of the Performing Arts on 12 January 1982.

Music

The music, reminiscent of

ragtime Ragtime, also spelled rag-time or rag time, is a musical style that flourished from the 1890s to 1910s. Its cardinal trait is its syncopated or "ragged" rhythm. Ragtime was popularized during the early 20th century by composers such as Scott ...

, consists of the following six selections from Gottschalk's piano works, orchestrated by Jack Elliott: * '' Souvenir de Porto Rico'' * ''The Dying Poet'' * ''Tournament Galop'' * '' La Savane'' and ''Oh ma charmante, épargnez-moi!'' * '' Le Bananier'' * ''Manchega''

Productions

Since its ABT premiere, ''Great Galloping Gottschalk'' has been staged by numerous ballet companies, including the

Pennsylvania Ballet The Philadelphia Ballet, formerly known as Pennsylvania Ballet until rebranding in 2021, is Philadelphia's largest ballet company. The company's annual local season features six programs of classic favorites, as well as new works, including the Ph ...

, Carolina Ballet, BalletMet Columbus, Kansas City Ballet, and Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre.Pittsburgh Ballet Theater. ''Repertoire''
on Pittsburg Ballet Theater.org

References

{{reflist Ballets by Lynne Taylor-Corbett Ballets to the music of Louis Moreau Gottschalk 1982 ballet premieres