Description
La Savane (The Savannah), Op. 3, is a composition written for piano in 1846 by the American composer Louis Moreau Gottschalk. With the subtitle Ballade Créole, it was first published in 1849.
The inspiration for the piece was a New Orleans legend that the skeleton of runaway slaves that had perished in the swamps around the city had turned into oaks. While one of the primary themes has a melody which is similar to Skip to My Lou, it was actually based on portions of the Creole Louisiana song Pov’piti Lolotte.
Key: E minor
Mood: pensive, spooky
Pedagogy: staccato, piano/pianissimo, hand-crossing. subito fortississimo.
Gloria –
This piece is quite worldly and full of the small embellishments that will easily turn this into a very teachable moment, James’s pieces are thoughtful and each one has a goal. Thank you for helping us teachers be the best we can be.