Introducing Planxty Fanny Power (Fainní Ní Poer) on Low and High D Whistle

In this video I introduce and walk us through the tune, Planxty Fanny Power.

This tune was composed by Turlough O’Carolan as a Planxty, that is a tune written in thanks and honor of a host or sponsor.

I’ve crafted what seems to be a common setting for the tune. I found more elaborate transcriptions, but I think those were probably transcriptions of the way a specific person learned the tune. I doubt that what we have is exactly what O’Carolan composed all those years ago.

Turlough O’Carolan composed the tune around 1728. The story goes that O’Carolan wrote the tune in praise of Frances Power, the daughter of David and Elizabeth Power who were O’Carolan’s patrons at the time. O’Carolan called her “The swan of the shore.”

The family residence was on the shore of LoughRea in county Galway.

Select the video on the right to learn the tune with me.

Select Download to access a pdf of the music and tabs.