Recueil de fables choisies, dans le goût de M. de La Fontaine. Sur de petits airs & vaudevilles connus, notés à la fin pour en faciliter le chant. - Valette, Jean-Philippe 16?9-1750 (Paris Lottin Butard, 1749)
The author's name is revealed on a copy held at the Musée Médard
In the 18th century, the importance of the fable as a pedagogical or instructional medium was emphasised by authors as well as by fable theorists. In his article in the Encyclopédie, Marmontel cites, for example, the definition of the "fable apologue" as instruction disguised as an allegory of an action.
In the abundant theoretical writings of classicism on fable, the sung versions of fables are never mentioned, although it is a very important genre that served not only in public education, but also in family and social life. In the pedagogical field, its importance is comparable to the spiritual canticle which, through the catechism and the hymn books, was a very effective and highly esteemed teaching instrument of a national character cultivated in the 18th century only in France and in the countries under French cultural influence
Only the timbre is indicated and the tunes in musical notation without bass are added as an appendix. The 300 fables are part of the tradition of fables published in hundreds, or other published collections containing 300 vaudevilles or songs. The figure of 300 is therefore not unique either in the context of fable or vaudeville. Valette's collection is a structured whole. The 300 fables are not a simple collection, but a real anthology, for which the prologue and the 300th fable - entitled Le poëme et l'apologue - provide the framework.
Leather binding with gilt edges and decorations, heavily damaged during 2024 digitization
Nouvelle édition, Revue, corrigée & augmentée
Keywords: La Fontaine, Jean de -- 1621-1695; 18th Century (1701-1800); Aria; Song; Contrafactum; Vaudeville; Moral education; Poetry; France