Annotation:Belle Jeannette (La)

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BELLE JEANNETTE, LA. English, Country Dance (2/4). G Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABA. The original appears to have been printed in The Entire New and Compleat Tutor for the Violin by Geminiani, referring to Saverio Geminiani (1687-1762), an Italian virtuoso violinist who lived in London at several times during his career. His violin tutor was published before his death, and republished several times throughout the 18th and early 19th centuries. "La Bele Geannette" appears in a few musicians manuscripts of the early 19th century, including those of the Hardy Family (Dorset), R. Hughes (Whitechurch, Shropshire, 1823), J. Jones (north Shropshire, 1801), and John Clare "La Bel Jean" JC28 (Helpston, Northamptonshire). Although originally a French country dance, the tune can be employed as a polka.

Source for notated version:

Printed sources: Thompson (Compleat Collection of 200 Favourite Country Dances, vol. 5), p. 5. Trim (Thomas Hardy), 1990; No. 96.

Recorded sources: Topic Records TSCD550, Brass Monkey - "Flame of Fire" (2004).

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