FETE DES ROSES, CHIQUITA, SUNSET ON THE ST LAWRENCE: Three Rare French-Canadian Pieces

These are three uniquely French-Canadian pieces of sheet music, and I have not been able to find them available anywhere else. They are in near-perfect condition.

You don't have to buy all three. If you want one or two, let me know.

1. The Dance Caprice 'FETE DES ROSES (Roses Day)' by Arthur Wellesley, published by Waterloo Music in 1928, as part of the Canadian Composers Series.
5 pages of music, plus covers and samples, 9 1/4" x 12 1/4"

Aside from 2 tiny tears at the edges, condition is superb. It is both frameable and usable.

Arthur Wellesley was Arthur Wellesley Hughes (1870-1950) who, as a child, ran away from his Kingston ON home to join the circus. He became an itinerant musician in the US, playing the piano, calliope and alto horn. And he became a pretty successful composer, with lots of commissioned pieces, and two big hits: Kitty My Love, and Fete des Roses.


2. SUNSET ON THE ST LAWRENCE, 1925

There are a couple of original pieces of this song's music extant, but this is the only one with the Oakville office address, and this particular artwork treatment.

It was published after the Frederick Harris Co moved its Canadian office from Toronto to Oakville (1923), but before Oakville became the company's head office (1926).

Sunset on the St Lawrence also became the title of the 1984 book which was the history of the Frederick Harris Music Co.

The composer, Maxime Heller, was actually Charles Arthur Rawlings (1858-1919), a British composer who published dozens of songs under at least 34 different names (at the time, it was common practice to use pseudonyms). He recorded this song in 1916 and again in 1925.

4 pages of music, plus cover, 9 3/4" x 12 1/4"

(Note: The piece is larger than the scanner.)

The music is pristine; the cover has wear marks at the edges and a tiny tear. It's still perfect for framing.

3. CHIQUITA 1928

Chiquita is a waltz written by L Wolfe Gilbert and Mabel Wayne, who also wrote Ramona.

In the US, above the song title, there were the words 'A New Waltz Song by the Writers of Ramona'.

In France & Quebec, the line above the title is 'Avec Paroles Francaises', or 'With French Lyrics'.

Ramona, by the way, was a huge hit at the time.

I have the cover of that, featuring Dolores Del Rio, and am including it for free.

Note: I have lots of vintage sheet music listed here, some singly, many in bundles. You're welcome to create your own bundle, or just buy one piece from a grouping.


NOTE: My quoted price for shipping OUTSIDE of North America is for surface mail without tracking. For other shipping options, please contact me.