Annotation:Pas Seul (11)

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X:1 T:Pas Seul [11] N:[Danced by] “Miss Helen Hadden” M:6/8 L:1/8 R:Jig B:Archibald Duff – A Choice Selection of Minuets, Favourite Airs, Hornpipes, Waltzs &c. B:Book First (Edinburgh, c. 1812, p. 22) B: https://digital.nls.uk/special-collections-of-printed-music/archive/105810922 N:Archibald Duff (c. 1770-c. 1840?) was a musician (along with his brother Charles) and dancing N:master, of Montrose and Aberdeen, and is recorded as being a Professor of Music residing at N:Clayills Cottage, Aberdeen in 1837. N:The volume is dedicated to Lady Mary Ramsay of Balmain Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion K:A A|A2A A.A-.A|A2c e2c|AEc Aec|A3 z2c/d/| e2e edc|c2c cBA|A2A {c}TB>AB|[C3A3] z2:| c|e2e e(.e.e)|e3 ece|dBd cAc|(B3 B2)e| e2e e(.e.e)|e3 ece|dBd cAc|c3 (B2E)| AEc (A/E/A/).c/.e/.c/|A2A {c}TB>AB|AEc (A/E/A/).c/.e/.c/|A3 TB>AB| (AE)E (EA)A|(Ac)c (ce)e|AEc {c}BA>B|A3 A2!fine!!fermata!|| A|A(.d.d) d2A|A(.f.f) f2d|a=gf agf|e(.e.e) e2A| A(.d.d) d2A|A(.f.f) (f2d)|a=gf {f}Te>de|d(.d.d) d2A| .A(.e.e) (.e2.e)|=.g.f.e .g.f.e|f=gf agf|f(.e.e) e2A| A(.d.d) d2A|A(.f.f) f2d|a=gf {f}Te>de|ddd d2z!D.C.!||

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PAS SEUL [11]. Scottish, Jig and Country Dance Tune (6/8 time). A Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABC. "Pas Seul [11]" is one of several suites of tunes that were apparently choreographed by Montrose and Aberdeen dancing master and musician Archibald Duff for his female dance pupils, meant to be performed as a solo dance (pas seul = solo dance) to showcase their (and his) talents. In this case the name of the (supposed) pupil is "Miss Helen Hadden." Other tunes in his "Pas Seul [11]" suite include slow "Air (39)," "Reel (111)" and the "Slip Jig (11)" (a version of "Up with Aily (2)"), which would have given Ms. Hadden a range of rhythms and tempos with which to show her talents.

Helen Hadden (1796-1873) was the youngest daughter of James Hadden, merchant of Aberdeen and Provost of Persley, and his wife Violent Rose Innes. She would have been about aged fourteen at the time Duff published his volume, which also included "Pas Seul (12)" for her sister, Elsy Hadden. Helen married William Forbes-Robertson (1791–1840) of Hazelhead in 1824, a younger son of a family of Aberdeen merchants. While little is known about either of the Hadden girls, this sketch of their father was recorded.

The Hadden Family were very prominent in local Politics. The sons of the Family went on to dominate local Politics, filling the Office of Lord Provost of Aberdeen 4 times in the 19thC. For many years he resided, during part of the year, at Grandholm Cottage (now Danestone), on Donside; his Residence in Aberdeen was 150 Union Street, a House which has its entrance in Diamond Street, where he died 8th June 1845. Mr Hadden, during his long life, possessed robust health, without almost any interruption; his constitution was strong & vigorous and his deportment & appearance commanding & dignified. He possessed a most retentive memory, a strong masculine understanding, and an extraordinary portion of good sound practical common-sense, accompanied by keen discernment. His manners were gentlemanly and while, on all occasions, he stoutly maintained his own well-weighed opinions, he was ever open to conviction, and to lend a patient ear to those who differed from him.

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