O’Carolan’s Fancy jig

This one goes back some ways with me, but I’m not sure exactly where I first picked it up, though likely playing it for a dance, which I’m pretty sure of. I gather it sometimes gets air that way in New England contras, and/or faux Playfordish concoctions.

I have been given a name for the composer, but I couldn’t find any direct information there, so would very much welcome and stories anyone else might have or remember. The Composer listed for this, in Randy Miller’s book "The Fiddler’s Throne", is a Joseph Crofts. This information was given to me by the same noggin knocker or I wouldn’t have added this here. I couldn’t find my old notes for this, and my collection of early things with regards to O’Carolan is not at hand. I didn’t want to contribute this blind, but now there is some connection, here it is.

I’ll add one more transcription for comparison, from another source I knew for this, but which has no information other than the dots. That will be in the next box… ;-)

I understand this is now back in print, and with the passions that are "Free Reed", they’ve reissued the recording that goes with this on CD, and Alistair plays this in the first set. I see it isn’t showing, so I’ll either secure the link if it is here, or add it next. Here’s Alistair’s transcription, page 17 ~

X: 2
T: O’Carolan’s Fancy
B: "Concertina Workshop" by Alistair Anderson
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
R: jig
K: DMaj
|: A/G/ |\
FDF ABc | dAd fed | B/c/dB AdF | EFD EAG |
FDF AFA | Bcd ecA | GAB AdF | EDC D2 :|
|: (3B/c/d/ |\
dec def | gag fed | e/f/ge age | ded cBA |
GBd FAd | Eed cBA | Ggf edc | Adc d2 :|

As far as tutors go, if your interested in the English system concertina, Alistair is a great teacher and that comes out in this publication, but it’s greater usefulness is with the CD, for the ears…

The text for Alistair’s excellent tutor is now available online courtesy of the folks at Free-Reed, who are doing great things, so visit the site and check out their lovely collection of ear candy ~

http://www.free-reed.co.uk/

"Concertina Workshop" ~ the CD
http://www.free-reed.co.uk/frrr15
"Concertina Workshop" ~ the PDF of the book
http://www.free-reed.co.uk/concertinaworkhop.pdf

Yuck! I’ve got to stop saying that, ‘ear candy’. I keep imagining shoving candy sticks in my ears, wet candy sticks. Bluch! :-P

Note of clarification: Alistair’s work is useful, if not necessarily for playing ‘Irish’ music on the English concertina. But, it’s a good start into straight instrumental playing and song accompaniment… There are better recordings for ‘ear training’ and the heart, both for Northumbrian music, such as ‘The Shepherds’, and Irish music, which would be recommended as backup to any self study you’d do through using this book and recording. That is true of any other tutor, instrument or genre…

(Dow made me say that…)

I had this tune many years ago from the late Pat Neilly, who introduced it to a number of people, including Alistair Anderson.
Pat’s playing of the first part was, the first time through at least, more arpeggiate (is that a word?) than the versions posted so far:-
FDF AFA | dAd fdA | B/c/dB AdF | EFE EAG /
| FDF AFA | dAd fdA | B/c/d/B AdF |1 EDC D2 E :|2 EDC D2 A/B/c |
Pat would have played the second part exactly as ceolichan has noted Alistair Anderson’s playing of it above. He (Pat) always played this tune after The Dancing Tailor, which I have just posted:-
https://thesession.org/tunes/11611

Slip of the keyboard.

Another way some folks have with it is coelacanth… 8-)

I’ve not only found my notes, I’ve found my copy of Joseph Croft’s several publications, including -

"Walton’s Irish Dance Music: Including Original Tunes by J.M. Crofts A.D.C.M., Part Three"
Dublin - no dates given but the paper has aged to a dark tan… ;-)

Page 4: "Galloping Hogan"/"Dancing Tailor"/"O’Carolan’s Fancy"

All three are listed as compositions by Joseph M. Crofts

Submitted on March 14th 2004 by cos.
https://thesession.org/tunes/2651

# Added by ceolachan - October 27th, 2013
https://thesession.org/tunes/13119