Night in the Tropics, L.M. Gottschalk arranged by Robert Fruehwald for flute choir (2014).

Louis Moreau Gottschalk (1829-1869) was an American virtuoso pianist and composer. Born in New Orleans, he had a colorful life and career. He concertized extensively in the United States, the Caribbean, Central America and South America. His American career was cut short in 1865 when we fled the country fearing the consequences of a scandal involving a student at the Oakland Female Seminary. Gottschalk's death has been greatly romanticized. He is said to have collapsed during a concert in Rio de Janeiro just after the conclusion of one of his signature pieces—Morte! Gottschalk's music reflects the indigenous music of the American South, the Caribbean, and Latin America. Night in the Tropics (1859) was premiered in Cuba with a huge orchestra, brass band and native drummers. The King of the Cabildo, from Santiago de Cuba, lead the native percussionists. This version of the work presents only the introduction of the opening slow movement before launching into the Cuban dance music. The percussion of the native drummers is imitated by extended techniques—tongue rams, noise effects, and multi-phonics. For a description of extended techniques see Robert Dick's book The Other Flute.

Night in the Tropics was performed at the National Flute Association convention in Chicago in 2014. Paul Thompson conducted the Calliope Flute Ensemble.

The score and parts for Night in the Tropics are available from ScoreVivo.

Night in the Tropics, Calliope Flute Ensemble (excerpt).