menu
Log in or Sign up

Powell’s Fancy slip jig

Also known as Hoffedd Ap Hywel, Hywel’s Fancy, Powell’s Fancy.

There are 4 recordings of this tune.

Powell's Fancy has been added to 16 tunebooks.

Download ABC

Two settings

1
X: 1
T: Powell's Fancy
R: slip jig
M: 9/8
L: 1/8
K: Fmaj
|: f2 d cAF cAF | f2 d c>AF BAG | f2 d cAF cAF | GAB AGF EDC :|
|: f2 a afa afa | f2 a afa gec | f2 a afa afa | gab agf edc :|
K: Gmaj
|: g2 e dBG dBG | g2 e dB/A/G c2 A | g2 e dBG dBG | A>Bc BAG FED :|
|: g2 b bgb bgb | g2 b bgb afd | g2 b bg/a/b bgb | aa/b/c' bag fed :|
|: g2 e dBG dBG | g2 e dBG c2 A | g2 e dBG d2 G | A>Bc BB/A/G FED :|
|:G2 B BGB BGB | GBB BGB A>FD | G2 B BGB B2 G | AA/B/c BAG FED :|
2
X: 2
T: Powell's Fancy
R: slip jig
M: 9/8
L: 1/8
K: Gmaj
|: g2 e dBG dBG | g2 e dBG c2 A | g2 e dBG dBG | ABc BAG FED :|
|: g2 b bgb bgb | g2 b bgb afd | g2 b bgb bgb | abc' bag fed :|

Eight comments

"Hoffedd Ap Hywel" / "Hywel’s Fancy" / "Powell’s Fancy"

This one is very familiar to me, so I’ve hesitated for a long time before entering it here, but I couldn’t find it anywhere on site, not in A, D, F or G Major, or trying different measures, though there are family members on site. I’ll link to those later.

Hoffedd = Fancy (hoffi = to like) ~ hoff (ff = ‘f’ in Welsh) - eh - th (th as in ‘the’)
Ap = son of ~ ap
Hywel = a name ~ How - el

2 Xs, two keys, the only two keys I’ve known it in…

However, I have played related tunes in other keys… Here is one transcription of a tune that is related, for which I know other versions:

“Andrew Carr” ~ slip jig
Key signature: D Major
Submitted on July 3rd 2004 by Noxious Blanket.
https://thesession.org/tunes/3244

"Thompson’s Compleat Collection of 200 Favourite Country Dances. Vol. 4"

Publisher: Thompson, 1765
Where "Powell’s Fancy" can be found. A copy of the 1780 edition is in The British Library in London. I’d love to see that transcription, if anyone is stopping in to the library in the near future and wants to ABC it, before I get there… 😉

"Polly’s Fancy" ~ probably misheard? ~ Yorkshire, 1779

A version in F Major, but, except for minor points, note-for-note pretty much in agreement with the F Major version given here, is to befound in the ‘James Biggins manuscript’ in Leeds, 1779…

16 Bars ~

Sorry, I see the possibility of confusion, it is just a 16 bar tune, first given as two parts in the key of F Major, and then given twice through in G Major, but dropping the B-part down an octave the second time through… I hope that’s clear… 😏

"Powell’s Fancy" / "Hoffedd Ap Hywel" ~ the country dance, bare bones

"Twenty Four Country Dances for the Year 1765"
Charles & Samuel Thompson, London

Turn right hands and cast off one couple -|-
Turn with your left hands, the Man casts off and the Woman cast up |-
Foot it three at top and bottom -|:
Foot it three contrary sides :|:
Foot it corners and turn -||-
Lead out sides :||: ( ~ & turn )

This is another of the 18th Century dances Pat Shaw / Padrig Farfog worked up and is responsible for introducing into the ‘Welsh Folk Dance Society’ curriculum…

Hoffedd Ap Hywel (Powell’s Fancy)

Most sources give the tune in F major but here’s the tune in G

Re: Powell’s Fancy

I love this slip jig. I think it’s also played by Calan.