Annotation:Peter Kennedy's Fancy

Back to Peter Kennedy's Fancy

---

PETER KENNEDY'S FANCY (Roga Peadar Uí Ceinneidig). AKA and see “Red-Haired Lass (The).” Irish, Reel. G Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AB (O'Neill/1850 & 1001): AA'B (O'Neill/Krassen). Francis O'Neill gives this sketch of south County Leitrim fiddler Peter Kennedy (c.1822-1902), in his Irish Minstrels and Musicians (1913, pp. 367-368):

A worthy successor to Hugh O'Bierne, the famous fiddler of Ballinamore, County Leitrim, elsewhere alluded to, was Peter Kennedy, a farmer who lived a few miles out of town. Born about 1830, he is said to have had no superior in his day in the county, and we can well believe it, judging from the settings of his tunes which we have heard members of his family in Chicago play so delightfully.

Perhaps noting better illustrates the fascinating influence of his music than the following: In the year 1895, Mr. John Gillan of Chicago embarked for a European trip, accompanied by his wife and son, Rev. John Gillan. While visiting the old home in the adjacent county of Longford Mr. Gillan heard of Mr. Kennedy's great reputation as a fiddler. Ever and always enthusiastic about the music of his native land, he made up his mind to call and not miss such an opportunity. So charmed was he by Mr. Kennedy's performance that he decided to remain in that vicinity instead of proceeding with his family to Rome, according to the original programme. Under their father's training, four of his children--Thomas, Frances, James and Ellen became fine fiddlers.

See also "Katie's Fancy," which John Gillan transcribed from Peter Kennedy, and "Top the Candle," ascribed to

Source for notated version: fiddler Nellie (Ellen) Kennedy (Chicago) whose brother, fiddler James Kennedy also contributed to O’Neill’s collection, and whose father was a County Leitrim fiddler of local renown from whom she learned this tune [O’Neill].

Printed sources: O'Neill (Krassen), 1976; p. 110. O'Neill (Music of Ireland: 1850 Melodies), 1903; No. 1275, p. 240. O'Neill (Dance Music of Ireland: 1001 Gems), 1907; No. 543, p. 101.

Recorded sources:

---