Chapters XIV through XIX Summary and Analysis

Chapters XIV through XIX describes the period that ends nineteenth century romanticism.

Chapter XIV The First American notes 1840s America discouraged pupils away from European schools like Paris Conservatoire that rejected thirteen-year old Louis Moreau Gottschalk for being "too savage." Ironically, at sixteen the perfectly-mannered New Orleans native was acclaimed one of Europe's greatest pianists. Gottschalk returned to give a New York concert in 1853 and became an American society favorite. Gottschalk traveled to Cuba, Peru and Brazil but died unexpectedly at forty in 1869. Chapter XV The Virtuous profiles piano idealists dedicated to performance in concert halls that focused on quality rather than performing. One of these romantic pianists was Felix Mendelssohn who performed at four and memorized and played all the Beethoven symphonies at eight on piano. The most important classicist pianist of this group...