Annotation:Cardeuse (La)

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 CARDEUSE (ET LE GRAND TRIOMPHE), LA. French-Canadian, Reel. Canada, Québec. G Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABBCC'. A cardeuse refers to the person who performs the task of carding wool, straightening it between wire brushes in preparation for spinning. La Cardeuse is reported to be a dance from the St. Jean region of France, brought to the New World by French immigrants to Québec. The step-dance La Cardeuse is from the Saguenay region of Quebéc, and imitates the carding of wool, according to Hart & Sandell, giving rise to the title. Guy Bouchard notes that, while this 'crooked' tune was quite popular in the past, modern fiddlers seem to have forgotten it. Lisa Ornstein believes the tune may have derived from an 18th century cotillion melody. Source for notated version: fiddler Lisa Ornstein (Maine), based on the playing of William Gagnon (1st, 3rd parts) and Louis Boudreault (2nd part) [Hart & Sandell, Remon & Bouchard]; Louis "Pitou" Boudrealt [Remon & Bouchard]. Printed sources: Hart & Sandell (Dance ce Soir), 2001; No. 52, pg. 87. Remon & Bouchard (25 Crooked Tunes, vol. 2: Québec Fiddle Tunes), 1997; No. 2 (appears as "La cardeuse"). Recorded sources: Voyager 322, Louis Boudrealt - "Old Time Fiddler of Chicoutimi, Québec" (1977, 1993). Les Tétes de violon - "Le talencourt." Daniel Roy - "Au tour du flageolet" (1996). 30 Below TB 001CD, Les têtes de violon (Bouchard et al) - "Airs Tordus/Crooked Tunes" (1998).

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