RONDE DES VOYAGEURS (Travelers’ round dance). French-Canadian, Reel. A Minor (‘A’ part) & A Major (‘B’ part). Standard tuning (fiddle). AA’BB’: ABABCABA (Duval). The voyageurs/travelers of the title echoes the intrepid fur traders of early Canada, but, as Jean Duval points out, it probably more directly referred to the constant journeying of Québec City traveling salesman and fiddler Fortunat Malouin (1870-1935) as he made his sales rounds. The tune was recorded in New York in 1928 by Malouin who was originally from Saint-Sauveur, Québec, but who lived most of his life in Québec City. The tune was published in 1933 by J.A. Boucher, but with an added fourth part, a variation of the second strain.
Additional notes Source for notated version : - fiddler Vincent Ouellet of the group Éritage [Hart & Sandell].
Printed sources : - Boucher (Le Répertoire du Violoneux), 1933; No. 35. Jean Duval (La Musique de Fortunat Malouin 1870-1935), 2020; No. 3, p. 5. Hart & Sandell (Dance ce Soir), 2001; No. 60, p. 94. Songer (Portland Collection, vol. 2), 2005; p. 173.
Recorded sources : - Fogarty's Cove Music FCM-006, Éritage – “La ronde des voyageurs” (1982). Great Meadow Music GMM 2003, “Rodney Miller’s Airdance” (2000). Jean-Marie and Martin Verret – “Reflets du passé” (1993).
See also listing at : Hear Fortunat Malouin's 1927 recording on youtube.com [1]