Jean-Benjamin de La Borde (1734-1794)
'Recueil D’airs avec Accompagnement d' Guittare', in French, illuminated manuscript on paper [France, later 18th century]
A decorative 18th-century manuscript compilation of songs for guitar, notated in tablature, by the aristocratic composer, historian and friend of Voltaire, Jean-Benjamin de La Borde, valet de chambre to Louis XV, who was guillotined under Robespierre.

24 airs, vaudevilles and romances written in brown ink for solo voice and for five-course guitar notated in tablature on three two-stave systems per page. c.60 written pages, 200 x 260mm, watermarks: 1) ‘Vryheid’/ ‘C & I Honig’ (cf. Churchill 87) and 2) fleur-de-lys monogrammed ‘VDL’ (cf. Heawood 1838; Churchill 404), vocal part in ordinary music notation, five-course guitar notated in tablature, text in French on up to 16 lines per page, illuminated title page, 24 capitals in gold within coloured frames to open each song, set within hand-coloured engraved borders and with foliate decoration stencilled in gold, a further c.90 pages with borders but no text or music. Contemporary red morocco gilt binding, flat spine elaborately gilt in compartments (‘Recueil d'airs de guitarre’), silk doublures.

Provenance:
(1) Sotheby’s, 5 May 2013, lot 411.

(2) Schøyen Collection, MS 5516.

Jean-Benjamin de La Borde served as court composer to Louis XV. He studied violin under Antoine Dauvergne and composition under Jean-Philippe Rameau, composed many operas, mostly comic, and a four-volume collection of songs for solo voice, Choix de chansons mises en musique, published the influential Essai sur la musique ancienne et moderne in 1780, refused to flee France during the Revolution and was guillotined under Robespierre.

The present compilation includes among the 24 songs: 'Mes chers troupeaux', 'Viens Eglé dans la Prairie', ' Ma plus chère Brebis', 'Un jour sur la fougère', 'Depuis que le cruel Amour' (quoted in his Essai), 'Adieu donc dame françoise', and 'Depuis que l'aimable Thémire'.