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The first popular large ensemble featuring the guitar was established in the 1800's, often pairing guitar and mandolins. It was in these types of groups that women were first allowed, particularly in England, to play in public. By the age of 20 Catharina was London's most important guitar teacher, and her students included Queen Victoria's daughter, Louise, Princess of Wales as well as Lady Mary Hervey and her cousin Miss Augusta Hervey who established the first ladies’ guitar ensemble, the Ladies Guitar Band, in 1885. Not only did Pratten compose and arrange much of the Ladies Guitar Band’s concert repertoire, she was also principal conductor in their early years. Pratten’s tenure as conductor ended when the orchestra decided to add mandolin to their ensemble (at that point she chose to step down). Bolero is one of several works that Pratten composed and/or arranged for the Ladies Guitar Band.
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