Le Serin

Pierre François Olivier Aubert (1763 – c.1830) was a French cellist, guitarist, and composer active during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Born in Amiens, he was a self-taught cellist who later became a cello teacher in Paris. He performed in musical theaters and spent 25 years with the Opéra-Comique orchestra. After hearing Ferdinando Carulli in 1808, Aubert also took up the guitar. He composed numerous works for both solo and chamber ensembles. Additionally, he published instructional books for the cello and guitar and authored a pamphlet on ancient and modern music.

A serin is a small, finch-like songbird, closely related to the canary, found in Europe and North Africa, known for its bright yellow-green plumage and melodious song. This piece by Aubert is included in his New Method for the Five or Six String Guitar (Op. 18). The melodic theme and each subsequent variation are introduced as small airs in sonata form.