Louis VARNEY (1844-1908). Autograph musical manuscript, Fanfan la Tulipe, [1882]; 422 pages in-fol. Complete orchestral score of this comic opera in 3 acts, on a libretto by Paul Ferrier and Jules Prével, successfully premiered at the Folies-Dramatiques on October 21, 1882, with Max Bouvet in the title role, Mme Simon-Girard as Pimprenelle, and Simon-Max (Michel). Based on the character of Fanfan la Tulipe, the hero of a popular song, the play depicts the gallant adventures of the soldier Fanfan and his friend Michel, known as la Giroflée; arrested when he was about to fight a duel with Michel, Fanfan manages to escape and wins the battle of Fontenoy for the Maréchal de Saxe; Michel marries the linen maid Pimprenelle, and Fanfan runs off to new adventures The manuscript was prepared from the partita by a copyist who set up the instruments and drew up the song parts with the lyrics; Louis Varney orchestrated this score, which has 20 numbers, including the overture and two intermissions, and a second finale with fanfare, fifes and drums, and in which the refrain "En avant, Fanfan la Tulipe" recurs several times... The manuscript was used as a conductor, as shown by the annotations in blue pencil.