Clara Gottschalk Peterson

Clara Gottschalk Peterson (1837 –1910) was an American pianist, composer, and editor. She was the sister of virtuoso pianist Louis Moreau Gottschalk, editing a collection of his writings and working to preserve his memory after his death. She is remembered as "a staunch protector of her brother's music in its original form", as well as "a composer of considerable ability" in her own right. Aimée was "reputed to have believed that all the Gottschalk children would be musically gifted", and although not all of them went on to be as acclaimed as Louis Moreau, "all did perform publicly and/ or compose at one time or another".

It has been speculated that Clara may have bowdlerised her brother's writings in efforts to preserve his reputation. However, it is generally accepted that her reliance on published versions of the gathered texts means that omissions were Louis Moreau's, rather than hers.

Creole Songs In 1902, Clara published Creole Songs from New Orleans in the Negro Dialect. Transcribed from memory, she stated in the collection's introduction that:Dr. Dvořák has claimed that there is in time to be a native school of American music based upon the primitive musical utterances of the Indian and the negro among us. Then truly these melodies of the Louisiana negroes, which, quaintly merry or full of a very tender pathos, have served to rock whole generations of Southern children, are historical documents of some interest to the student and lover of music. The influence of the songs gathered by Clara on Louis Moreau Gottschalk's compositions was also noted, with some being based on them directly.

Selected compositions As composer The pixies' merry-making: petite caprice de genre, op. 11 (for piano) (c. 1867) A dream (song with piano) (1872) Fleur des champs: bluette musicale, op. 14 (for piano) (1872) Creole Songs from New Orleans in the Negro Dialect (1902) Quan' mo té dan' gran' chimain Mouché Mazireau Po' pitie Mamzé Zizi Zélim to quitté la plaine En avan' grènadié Ou Som Souroucou Salangadou Quan' patate la cuite Une deusse troisse Gardé piti milat' la Neg' pa' capab' marché Papa va a la rivière Staccato polka (for piano) (1909) In sylvan glade (for piano) (unknown date)

As editor Marguerite, Op. 76 (by Louis Moreau Gottschalk) (Waltz for piano) (published 1873)