The Foxhunters

'The Foxhunters' is a popular Irish tune often played at sessions. It's generally considered to be best suited for fiddle, banjo, and other instruments like the mandolin.

Key and Difficulty:

• Most players find it sounds best in the key of A. However, playing it in A can be tricky on instruments like the whistle and flute.
• Playing in G can be more challenging, particularly for mandolin players.
• Some players use a unique tuning (AEAE) on the fiddle, which creates a rich, ringing sound – a common practice in Cape Breton.

Variations & Performance:

• Some performers sometimes omit the first part of the tune after the first playing, replacing it with the final part. Whether this is an intentional variation or a mistake is debated.
• The tune has been recorded by musicians like James Kelly and Sean Keane.
• It’s often played very fast on the banjo and pairs well with guitar chords in A major.
• Some groups, like the Tulla Ceili Band, play it in G.
• It’s common for groups to play it in G, then shift to A.
• In some areas, particularly around Dingle, the tune is frequently played as part of a set, sometimes following “The Bucks of Oranmore.”

Origin and Tradition:

• Some believe fiddler Paddy Kelly of Co. Clare introduced the tune in A.
• A detailed transcription of the tune in A appears in Breandan Breathnach’s 1971 book, “Folkmusic And Dances of Ireland”.
• It is sometimes associated with the sound of hunting, with listeners encouraged to "make the dogs bark."

Note: Due to varied opinions and regional preferences, there’s no single “correct” way to play ‘The Foxhunters.’