Planxty Fanny Power (Carolan)

A Planxty is a tune dedicated to a certain person. Turlough O'Carolan wrote plenty of these, probably to make a bit of cash, anyway they are a hallmark of Carolan's work.

This is a great tune, like most of Carolan's it has that Baroque feel. For whistle players who want to use different C natural fingerings, there are plenty of opportunities here. I have used the half hole C at bar 3 on the second time round and the (oxx ooo) fingering elsewhere. Of course it's up to the individual where to play the different fingerings, if at all. Some people don't like the effect of half-holing as it can give a wobbly slurring sound. On this clip I have done just that and I'm not overly keen on the sound but I have left it because the tune works as a whole.

In the second section the G notes in bar three could have a tap added. The dotted notes can give the tune a nice lilt that can be varied too as in bar 10 of the second part.

I got this tune from BBC Radio Two's excellent Virtual Session site which is well worth a visit.

D whistle Planxty Fanny Power