Annotation:L'Albertine

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l'ALBERTINE. AKA and see "Merry Girls of Epsom." French, Country Dance (6/8 time). B Flat Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB. From the contradance book (tunes with dance instructions) of Robert Daubat (who styled himself Robert d'Aubat de Saint-Flour), born in Saint-Flour, Cantal, France, in 1714, dying in Gent, Belgium, in 1782. According to Belgian fiddler Luc De Cat, at the time of the publication of his collection (1757) Daubat was a dancing master in Gent and taught at several schools and theaters. He also was the leader of a choir and was a violin player in a theater. Mr. De Cat identifies a list of subscribers of the original publication, numbering 132 individuals, of the higher level of society and the nobility, but also including musicians and dance-masters (including the ballet-master from the Italian opera in London). Many of the tunes are written with parts for various instruments, and include a numbered bass.

The tune, however, was previously published as "Merry Girls of Epsom" in John Johnson's Choice Collection of 200 Country Dances, vol. 6 (London, 1751), followed by appearances in David Rutherford's Compleat Collection of 200 of the Most Celebrated Country Dances (London, 1756) and Charles and Samuel Thompson's Compleat Collection vol. 1 (London, 1757).

Source for notated version:

Printed sources: Daubat (Cent Contredanses en Rond), 1757; No. 44.

Recorded sources:

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