Annotation:Molecatcher (The)

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MOLECATCHER, THE. English, Jig. D Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB. The melody was first printed by London publisher Charles and Samuel Thompson in their 1765 country dance collection. According to Wikipedia, "Traditional molecatchers traveled from farm to farm in order to catch moles. The molecatcher's clients would provide food and lodgings. Also, the molecatcher would be paid for every mole caught; he would earn extra money by selling the moleskins to fur dealers." There is a bawdy song called "The Mole Catcher" [Roud 1052; Ballad Index K206], or, in Scotland, "The Modiewark", but whether it has a connection with this jig is not known.

Source for notated version:

Printed sources: Knowles (A Northern Lass), 1995; p. 14. Thompson (Compleat Collection of 200 Favourite Country Dances, vol. 2), 1765; No. 134.

Recorded sources: Folksound Records FSCD37, The Band of the Rising Sun - "Setting it Right" (1996)



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