Australiana

Martin Simonsen. Sega : Danse Crèole De L'isle De La Rèunion (1886)

Among the major additions to Lyster’s opera company were the soprano Fannie Simonsen and her husband Martin, a violinist, conductor and composer of brilliant talent but difficult personality. He styled himself “violin soloist to the King of Denmark” (though his name is not found in Danish court records) and appears to have travelled very widely. His virtuosic violin works include, in addition to fantasies on operatic themes and popular songs, some more exotic numbers such as a Souvenir de Caracas et Puerto Rico and this Sega from the Indian Ocean island of Réunion.

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First page of violin part.	Title page of score.