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Caitriona’s Fancy reel

Also known as Dan’s Hands.

There are 2 recordings of this tune.

Caitriona’s Fancy has been added to 2 tune sets.

Caitriona's Fancy has been added to 7 tunebooks.

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One setting

1
X: 1
T: Caitriona's Fancy
R: reel
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Bmin
B2BA Bcde|f2fg fedc|B2Bc dcBd|cFFE F2FA|
B2BA Bcde|f2fg fedc|dfBd ce^Ac|1 Bcdc B2BA:|2 Bcdc Bcde||
f2fg fedf|e2ef gfeg|fBBf BBfB|e2ed cde2|
f2fg fedf|e2ed cdec|dfBd ce^Ac|Bcdc Bcde|
f2fg fedf|e2ef gfeg|fBBf BBfB|e2ed cde2|
faae ggdB|BccA BGAF|G2GF EFGA|BdcA B2z2||

Two comments

Caitriona’s Fancy (Dan’s Hands)

Composed by English fiddler Dan Hands (hence the alternative title). He confirms that my notation matches his original version, which he played on Steam Radio’s CD “The Twilight Shift” (?2004). It’s played a lot by musicians in northeast England. Another, totally unrelated tune also called “Caitriona’s Fancy” is shown at thesession.org/tunes/5594, composed (sez Dr. Dow) by Peter O’Leary of Graignamanagh, Co. Kilkenny, “who … said it was written for his daughter.” BUT that page mistakenly lists a recording of the tune which is actually Dan’s version from the Steam Radio CD, not O’Leary’s jig. That’s one reason Dan’s version is also called “Dan’s Hands”. Ah, the confusing joy of titles…..
Dan’s friend (and Steam Radio plucker) Martin Matthews included the piece on his CD “Autumn” (2010) in what he called a “Latin inspired rendition”. (Dan fiddles on that album but not on that track!) It’s recognisably the same tune but with lots of variation.

Re: Caitriona’s Fancy (Dan’s Hands)

I particularly enjoy the first two bars of the last line.