Henri Vieuxtemps was a Belgian virtuoso violinist and composer who was one of the first to tour around the world performing in major concert halls. Going into the nineteenth century, the culture of patronage for classical music shifted to larger public performances sponsored by the new middle-class audiences. This economic and cultural shift would lead to the idolization of stars such as Niccolo Paganini, Franz Liszt and Vieuxtemps himself. They also travelled internationally to perform. Henri Vieuxtemps had his first American tour from 1843 to 1844, including a stop in New Orleans where he was introduced to the traditions of Creole music.

One of the tunes that inspired him was Yankee Doodle. Vieuxtemps composed a series of variations based on the tune for him and his pianist to perform. His Souvenir d'Amerique was a crowd favorite, often ending his recitals with an exciting and energetic spirit. Yankee Doodle is an American classic, originating during the Seven Years’ War (1756 to 1763) to make fun of American colonists fighting alongside the British. This version of the piece was arranged by Frank Foerster in 2009.