ESSENCE OF OLD KENTUCKY. AKA - "Essence of Old Virginia." American, ("Slow") Jig. F Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AB. The tune was printed by Elias Howe in his Musucian's Omnivus Nos. 6 & 7 (1880-1882) as "Essence of Old Virginia", then, a year or so later as "Essence of Old Kentucky" in Ryan's Mammoth Collection (1883). Why the state changed in the title is unknown, but there were at least two other, different, tunes called "Essence of Old Virginny," and perhaps the title was changed to avoid more confusion. See note for "Essence of Old Virginny" for information on the "Essence..." type of tune.
Additional notes
Printed sources : - Cole (1000 Fiddle Tunes), 1940; p. 24. Elias Howe (Musician’s Omnibus Nos. 6 & 7), Boston, 1880-1882; p. 635 (as "Essence of Old Virginia"). Ryan's Mammoth Collection, 1883.
