I have long been fascinated by Gottschalk's music and have acquired a
number of recordings and piano rolls.  These include "The Banjo"
arranged for organ by Carlo Curley!  I am struck by two things; his
music is still so little known and how modern it sounds.  I have played
some of his work to very musical friends and asked them to guess at the
date of composition.  They are usually 50 to 100 years late!

I have always guessed that Gottschalk must have somehow influenced the
rise of ragtime but it ain't necessarily so.  I will follow the debate
with interest.

Jeffrey Borinsky
London, UK