Annotation:Valse du vieux-Québec (La)
X:1 T:Valse du vieux-Québec, La N:A version of "Shoe the Donkey," "Varsovienne", from the playing of N:fiddler Isidore Soucy (Montreal, 1899-1963) M:3/4 L:1/8 R:Varsovienne D:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVJXA-2MCcE D:Disques Mérite, "Les Grands Folkloristes Québécois, vol. 2: Isidore Soucy" (2009). K:G DG|B2 BG DG|B2 BG GB|d2 dB GB|AA AF DF | A2 AF DF|A2 AG AB|c2 (3BcB A2|1 G2G2 :|2 G2 Gc Bd|| |:g2Tf2 eB|c2 cd cc|e2d2G2|B2 Bc BB| ddB2G2|A2 AG AB|c2 (3BcB A2|1 G2 Gc Bd:|2 G2G2||
VALSE DU VIEUX-QUÉBEC, LA. AKA and see "Father Halpin's Topcoat (1)," "Shoe the Donkey (2)," "Valse de luthier," "Varsovienne (1) (The)." French-Canadian, Varsovienne (3/4 time). G Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AA'BB'. Lisa Ornstein (2009) suggests the first strain of this waltz may be derived from the song “Votre p’tit chien, madame,” known to folk of all ages in some parts of France, in French Canada and among the Franco-American community in New England. It is, however, a version of "Varsovienne (1) (The)," introduced into Parisian society in 1853 where it quickly became popular, spreading throughout Europe and America. It was an original composition by Francisco Alonso (1822?-1876) and had eight parts, and while traditional musicians have developed melodic and title variations the tunes they play generally relate to some part of the original.
Soucy had recorded the tune under the title "Valse de luthier" a year earlier, in 1936.
