Count Sax's Minuet

 COUNT SAX'S MINUET. AKA - "Mashall Saxe's Minuet." Welsh, Minuet. G Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AA'BB. The tune appears in A Collection of Welsh, English and Scotch Airs (1761) published by John "Blind" Parry of Rhiwabon (1710?-1782), a famous Welsh Triple Harpist, and is perhaps his own composition. Parry was harper to Sir Watkin Williams Wynn of Wynnstay, near Rhiwabon, Maelor, but achieved fame in his lifetime, traveling to London to perform in the company of his patron. He was known to the composer Frederich Handel, who admired the harper's playing. The minuet was published in Six Sonatas op. 2 (1752) by André Joseph Exaudet and is named for Maurice, Compte de Saxe (1696-1750), one of the most brilliant commanders in the history of the French army. Born the natural son of the King of Poland, Augustus II and countess Aurora Königsmarck, he was the first of 354 illegitimate children. Indeed, he too was notorious for his own amorous exploits and for his tragic liaison with the famous French actress Adrienne Lecouvreur (who mysteriously died, some say at the hands of her rival, the duchesse de Bouillon). Saxe served in the armies of several countries on the Continent, and became Marshal of France in 1743. His reputation was ensured by his important victories at Fontenoy (1745) and Raucoux (1746), and by the capture of Maastrcht (1748). Louis XV gave him life tenure of the castle of Chambord. The writer George Sand was a descendent of his. Source for notated version: the music manuscript of Captain George Bush (1753?-1797), a fiddler and officer in the Continental Army during the American Revolution [Keller]. Printed sources: Johnson (The Kitchen Musician No. 14: Songs, Airs and Dances of the 18th Century), 1997; p. 6. Keller (Fiddle Tunes from the American Revolution), 1992; p. 10. Recorded source: Flying Fish FF70610, Robin Huw Bowen - "Telyn Berseiniol fy Ngwlad/Welsh Music on the Welsh Triple Harp" (1996).

X:1 T:Count Sax's Minuet M:3/4 L:1/8 R:Minuet K:G G>G G4|A>A A4|c4B2|A4G2|FAcABG|FAcABG|1 FAcABG|A2 GFED:|2 Dc B2A2|G6||:dBAG g2|f3e d2|dcBABc|B4A2|Gb b2b2|Fa a2a2| bagfed|^c4d2|efgefd|^cegefd|Agfde^c|d3c BA|G>G G4| A2A A4|c4B2|A4G2|FAcABG|FAcABG|Dc B2A2|G6||

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