Obscure Music Monday: Carreño's Gottschalk Waltz

Maria Teresa Carreño Garcia de Sena (Dec. 22, 1853 - June 12, 1917) was a Venezuelan pianist, singer, conductor, and composer. Born in to a musical family, she became known around he world as a virtuoso pianist, often referred to as the "Valkyrie of the piano".

Carreño showed great talent as a child, and took lessons early on with her father. When she was only nine years old her family moved to New York City, and Carreño started giving public and private concerts shortly after. After meeting Louis Morea Gottschalk, a composer who promoted her playing, Carreño would play all over the east coast, and even performed at the White House. In 1866 her family left for Paris, where she began voice lessons with Rossini, and became acquainted with several composers, including Gounod and Liszt. She would go on to give piano recitals and soloing with orchestras across Europe, the US, and Venezuela, and established herself as a formidable musician.

Carreño's first composition was inspired by Gottschalk, and wrote Gottschalk's Waltz at the only ten years old. It's a charming salon piece, filled with bright runs, pretty ornaments, and is generally a lot of fun. It's what you'd expect from a salon piece--charm and camp, all in one!