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 (The)," composed in the mid-19th century by dancing master Francisco Alonso (1822?-1876), which became extremely popular in Paris and thence the world.
Soucy had recorded the tune under the title "Valse de luthier" a year earlier, in 1936.
