Annotation:L'Abbé
X:1 T:L'Abbé M:2/4 L:1/8 N:"Compos'd by a young Lady" N:"Danced by Mr. Holland" R:Country Dance B:John Watlen - The Celebrated Circus Tunes (Edinburgh, 1791, p. 5) Z:AK/Fiddler's Companion K:Eb B|e2e2|e/f/g gg|afff|bgeB|e2e2|e/f/g gg|afed|ee3!End!:|| f2g2|a2g2|f2g2|a2g2|BBcc|ddee|cc=AA|!fermata!B3!D.C.!||
L'ABBÉ. Scottish (?), Country Dance Tune (2/4 time). E Flat Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB. The tune was "composed by a lady," a common attribution when a member of the gentry composed music and wished to remain anonymous (as composing was regarded as unladylike in some social circles). John Watlen, in whose Celebrated Circus Tunes (Edinburgh, 1791) the melody appears, noted the it was a tune danced to by a 'Mr. Holland' at the Royal Circus in Edinburgh. London equestrian and promoter Phillip Astley opened an Edinburgh branch of his London-based Royal Circus, providing an alternate entertainment to the opera or theater, where equestrian acts, acrobatics, song and dance, and pantomime could be enjoyed. There were several period performers named Holland, and it is unknown which one Watlen referred to.
One of the earliest dancing masters in London was Anthony L'Abbé who began his career at the Paris Opéra in 1688, but who came to London a decade later at the invitation of actor-manager Thomas Betterton. He dance before William III at Kensington Palace in 1699, and danced an choreographed in London's theaters for serval years. By 1720 he was receiving an annual salary to teach three princesses, but had no official appointment as dancing master, and continued in the position until 1737. L'Abbé was the brother-in-law of Mr. Isaac, another famous dancing master (see "Mr. Isaac’s Maggot"[1]. It is not known whether there is a connection between L'Abbé the dancing master and the title of this country dance.
