Annotation:Fette de Village (1) (La)

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FETTE DE VILLAGE, LA. AKA -- "La Fête de Village," "Fete du Village," "Village Festival." French, English; Country Dance Tune (2/4 time). D Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AB. The name is taken from a stage work called La Fête du Village by Francois-Joseph Gossec, performed at the Paris Opera in 1778, then imported to London. Gossec is all-but-forgotten today, but was the originator of a richer style of orchestral writing, and introduced many standard reforms in the ordinary orchestral practice. In addition to the 1782 printing by James Aird, the melody was also published by Samuel, Ann and Peter Thompson in Compleat Collection of 200 Favourite Country Dances, vol. 4 (London, 1780, p. 65) and Longman & Broderip's Compleat Collection of 200 Favorite Country Dances (London, 1781, p. 4). "Fette de Village" also appears in several 19th century English musicians' manuscripts, including those of William Mittel (1799, New Romney, Kent), H.S.J. Jackson (1823, Wyresdale, Lancashire), Thomas Hammersley (1790, London), and FVWMLA (the last under the title "La Ball Elegante").

The melody is not related to Carl Volti's "Village Festival (The)."

Source for notated version:

Printed sources: Aird (Selection of Scotch, English, Irish and Foreign Airs), vol. II, 1785; No. 64, p. 24. Callaghan (Hardcore English), 2007; p. 35. Manson (Hamilton’s Universal Tune Book, vol. 2), 1846; p. 35.

Recorded sources: Rhiannon RHYD 5003, Barry Dransfield – "Be Your Own Man" (1994. Track 10: La Fête de Village/Hornpipe/Miss Sackville’s Fancy).

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