Trois Airs de Ballet: La Cracovienne
Thomas Ambroise
This Cracovienne is a movement from the ballet La Gipsy by Thomas Ambroise (1811 -1896). The three-act ballet is based on a libretto after the novel Novelas ejemplares: La gitanilla by Miguel de Cervantes, the author of the famous Don Quijote.
The in those times famous dancer Fanny Elssler was the prima donna in this ballet. History states that this Polish-like piece was one of her favourites.
The French composer Thomas Ambroise enjoyed his greatest successes in the Opera Comique, a theatre which was quite popular with the 19th century Parisian bourgeoisie.
Usually ballets have an orchestral accompaniment. This does not fit on the guitar, so this piece is a simplified arrangement which appeared in a 19thy century guitar magazine. The piece is not too difficult, so a brisk tempo should be achievable pretty soon.
Apparently the dancer required quite some time for her steps, so the piece includes a lot of (over)repeated fragments. Feel free to shorten things a bit, consider the repeats as optional.