The Leitrim Fancy jig

I know this tune by the name The Leitrim Fancy, as recorded by the Bothy Band on Out of the Wind, Into the Sun. An altogether different tune also goes under the name The Leitrim Jig. I usually play an E2 at the start of the second measure (rather than D2 as posted), and then play GAB as the first three notes of the 7th measure of Part A and the 1st, 3rd, and 5th measures of Part B.

I think it’s actually in E minor.

I think this is Daleystown Hunt from Happy to Meet and Sorry to Part as well.

In https://thesession.org/discussions/8117 the wounded hussar asked about the mode:
"Thanks to all for advice and it is a lot clearer now. I was playing a few tunes there last night and thinking about keys and modes. A further query arises as follows: take the jig, Leitrim Fancy or Leitrim Jig, GBG FAF E-B BAB etc. I would be inclined to think the home note here may be E. The tune has an F# but there ain’t no C’s at all in basic tune. So is this E Dorian (2 sharps) or E Minor (1 sharp)? i.e. does the complete absence of a note that would normally be sharpened in a key affect how you would describe the mode. I guess if you listen to the tune and decide on it’s sound, it doesn’t have a very sad or minor feel to it so on basis of Garry’s advice that would make it E Dorian but then maybe I’m completely out and it’s not in E at all !!!"

My reply in that thread belongs here as well, so here goes:

I just had a look at Leitrim Fancy. I’d say the A part is in E Dorian and the B part is in G Major. I’m no accompanist, but it sure looks like the first couple of bars alternate between E minor and D major chords, which make it a minor or dorian tune. It is, as you say, hexatonic, so it’s ambiguous. But dorian is much more common than minor in Irish music, so if you needed to decide (like for posting the tune here), dorian would be the best choice. Calling it D major is just plain wrong.

The B part seems to call for G, D, and C major chords, which would put it squarely in G Major until the last measure, where it heads toward a D Major chord instead of resolving to G, as it prepares to return to E dorian for the next time around.

It’s very interesting in that the home note of E is not prominent at the end of the A part. Perhaps that’s because it’s preparing for the shift to G for the B part.

I was told this tune was called after a place called Leitrim in Co. Galway, and not after County Leitrim, but don’t know if this is true or not.

The second bar of Part A should start with E not D. The ABCs are right - it should be E2B BAB, not D2B BAB.

check the reel: Around the World for Sport https://thesession.org/tunes/1011
for stunning similarity.
The Bothyband played them in succession on ‘Out of the Wind’.

X: 1
T: Leitrim Fancy, The
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
R: jig
K: Dmaj
GBG FAF|EDB BAB|~G3 FAF|DFA AFD|
~G3 FAF|EDB BAB|GAB dBG|ABG FED:|
GAB dBd|edB dBA|GAB dBG|ABG FED|
GAB dBd|edB def|gfe dBG|ABG FED:|

the second part is or sounds like it is in G Major, but it sits very well on a continuous E drone.

Set:
Naturally flows into or out of Morrison’s jig or any similar Eminor one… https://thesession.org/tunes/71

Rogha Liadroma from Alecrín. Alecrín is a galician band of 80s and early 90s. This song appears in one of their two albums. Godaxe and Itinerante. http://musicagalega.wordpress.com/tag/alecrin/

Here’s a video tutorial for playing this on the mandolin:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoduKcOGwgc

play video

Hi everyone.

I’m new to the Accordian, I’m learning on my own and I have a couple of basic Jigs and Polkas learned so far. I came across this Jig and I’m having a bit of trouble at the start of it.

I dont understand this part "E2B BAB" Does that mean their is 2 E’s or 2 B’s. When I try 2 B’s and then do the 3 B after it, its sounding terrible. Can anyone explain what I’m doing wrong or how should I play 3 B’s together.

Thank you
Thomas.

Try listening to the midi file of the setting you’re working on, or read the dots. It looks like you’re trying to play it from the ABCs. It does mean holding the E for twice as long as the B following.