We all know of composers who made journeys to other countries than their homeland (BTW, can you imagine how tiring and long travelling in the 19th century must have been, without planes and cars...). They heard local (folk) music which was used in own compositions. An example is Julian Fontana (1810-69) from Poland who made a trip to Cuba in 1844 in his piano works La Havana. Fantaisie sur des motifs Américains et Espagnols and Souvenirs de l'Ile de Cuba.
We also come across composers who gave some works titles referring to other countries. The Belgian August de Boeck (1865-1937) springs to mind with his Dahomeyan Rhapsody of 1893, although De Boeck never visited that West African country (today's Benin).
A question to members: do you know other examples (not from sung composers like Mendelssohn)?
We also come across composers who gave some works titles referring to other countries. The Belgian August de Boeck (1865-1937) springs to mind with his Dahomeyan Rhapsody of 1893, although De Boeck never visited that West African country (today's Benin).
A question to members: do you know other examples (not from sung composers like Mendelssohn)?