The Fiddler’s Companion

© 1996-2007 Andrew Kuntz

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MAIG - MAL

 

 

 

Notation Note: The tunes below are recorded in what is called “abc notation.” They can easily be converted to standard musical notation via highlighting with your cursor starting at “X:1” through to the end of the abc’s, then “cutting-and-pasting” the highlighted notation into one of the many abc conversion programs available, or at concertina.net’s incredibly handy “ABC Convert-A-Matic” at

http://www.concertina.net/tunes_convert.html 

 

**Please note that the abc’s in the Fiddler’s Companion work fine in most abc conversion programs. For example, I use abc2win and abcNavigator 2 with no problems whatsoever with direct cut-and-pasting. However, due to an anomaly of the html, pasting the abc’s into the concertina.net converter results in double-spacing. For concertina.net’s conversion program to work you must remove the spaces between all the lines of abc notation after pasting, so that they are single-spaced, with no intervening blank lines. This being done, the F/C abc’s will convert to standard notation nicely. Or, get a copy of abcNavigator 2 – its well worth it.   [AK]

 

 

 

MAIGDEAN AG RGANAD LE NA GRAD (The Maiden’s lament for her lover’s departure). Irish, Slow Air (4/4 time). D Dorian. Standard tuning. One part. Source for notated version: “Skull. P. McDowell” [Petrie]. Stanford/Petrie (Complete Collection), 1905; No. 1075, pg. 272.

           

MAIGDINE ALAINN, NA. AKA and see "The Fair Maidens."

           

MAIGHDEAN MHARA. Irish, Slow Air (3/4 time). D Major/Mixolydian. Standard. One part. Ó Canainn (Traditional Slow Airs), 1995; No. 107, pg. 91.

           

MAIGHDEAN MHARA AN MHULLAIGH MHOIR. AKA and see "The Maid of Mullaghmore."

           

MAIGHDEAN MHARA MULLACH MHÓIR. AKA and see “The Maid of Mullaghmore.”

           

MAIGHDEAN MHUILE (The Maiden of Mull). Scottish, Air (6/8 time). B Flat Major. Standard. AB. The Island of Mull lies off the Scottish coast. Neil (The Scots Fiddle), 1991; No. 168, pg. 217.

                       

MAIGHDEAN NA h-AIRIGH. Scottish, Slow Air (3/4 time). G Major. Standard. AB. Martin (Ceol na Fidhle), vol. 4, 1991; pg. 22.

                       

MAIGHDEANNAN NA HIBIRIDH (The Sheiling Song). AKA – “Maighdeanan na hÁiridh.” AKA and see "Thug mi'n oidhche raoir san airidh." Scottish, Air (3/4 time). G Major. Standard. AAB (Martin): AABB (Neil). The Gaelic title is pronounced ‘MY-juh-nun nuh HA-ree’. A sheiling was/is a rustic dwelling used by herders (usually the sons and daughters of the family) while they tended livestock in the high summer pastures. The air was composed by John MacGilvray, alias 'Alasdair Ruadh', the piper to Alexander Macdonald X of Glenaladale. He was responsible, relates Neil (1991), for the building of the Glenfinnan Monument in 1874 and later emigrated with his family to Nova Scotia. Martin prints the air under the title "Thug mi'n oidhche raoir san airidh." There is perhaps (?) a relation with the hymn "Beach Spring" pinted in The Sacred Harp, Philadelphia, 1844. Martin (Ceol na Fidhle), Vol. 2, 1988; pg. 4. Neil (The Scots Fiddle), 1991; No. 138, pg. 178. SUR 014, Capercaille – “The Blood is Strong.”

           

MAIGHREAD DILIS BREATHNACH. Irish, Air. G Dorian. Standard. AB. Roche Collection, 1982, vol. 3; No. 16, pg. 5.

           

MAIGHSTREAS AN TI (Lady of the House). AKA and see "Lady of the House." Irish. See also "Woman of the House." Breathnach (CRÉ II), 1971; No. 71.

           

MAIGISTIR-RINNCE, AN. AKA and see "The Dancing Master."

           

MAIGISTREAS NI DUNLAINGE. AKA and see "Mrs. Delaney [2]."

           


MAIGUE'S TIDE. AKA and see "Salamanca {Reel} [1]," "The Wild Salamanca," "The Coronation Reel," "The Salamander," "The Tartan Plaid."

           

MAILÍ BHÁN. AKA and see "Fair Molly."

           

MAILÍ MIC AILPÍN. AKA and see "Molly MacAlpin," "Poll Ha'penny."

           

MAILÍ NIG UIDHIR. AKA and see “Molly Maguire [3].”

           

MAILÍ ÓN LONGFORT. AKA and see “Molly from Longford.”

           

MAILIN GUIDEY UYAIN. Irish. This air was recorded by the Belfast Northern Star of July 15, 1792, as having been played by one of ten Irish harp masters at the last great convocation of ancient Irish harpers, the Belfast Harp Festival, held that week.

           

MÁILLÉAD AN TUÍODÓRA.  AKA and see “The Thatcher’s Mallet.”

 

MAILLI NI MAOLUAIN. AKA and see "Molly O'Malone."

           

MAINS OF GARTLY. Scottish, Reel. E Minor. Standard. AAB.  Composed by J. Scott Skinner (1843-1927) after a place he visited in Scotland. It appears in his Logie Collection. Alburger (Scottish Fiddlers and Their Music), 1983; Ex. 112, pg. 188. Skinner (The Scottish Violinist), pg. 23. Skinner (Harp and Claymore), 1904; pg. 66.

See also listings at:

Alan Snyder’s Cape Breton Fiddle Recording Index

Jane Keefer’s Folk Music Index: An Index to Recorded Sources 

X:1

T:Mains of Gartly

M:C|

L:1/8

C:J. Scott Skinner (1843-1927)

R:Reel

S:Skinner – Logie Collection

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:E Minor

B | (gf)e^d e2 Bd | efga fddf | gfe^d e=dBg | fe^df e(EE) :|

F | G/G/G (BG) dG gG | D/D/D (FD) Ad dD | E/E/E (GE) BE ge | fe^df e(EE).F |

G/G/G (BG) dG gG | D/D/D (FD) AD df | .g.f  .e.^d .e.=d B.g | .f.b .B.b g(ee) ||  

           

MAIR ROZIT.  Scottish, Reel. E Minor. Standard. AAB. Composed by J. Scott Skinner (1843-1927). Skinner (Harp and Claymore), 1904; pg. 65.

X:1

T:Mair Rozit

M:2/4

L:1/8

R:Reel

C:J. Scott Skinner (1843-1927)

S:Skinner – Harp and Claymore (1904)

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:E Minor

B,/ | E/4E/4E/ (G/E/) BA/G/ | F/A/d/B/ A/F/D/F/ | G/B/d/f/ g/d/B/G/ | A/c/B/A/ G/E/E/ :|

f/ | g/e/f/^d/ e/g/f/e/ | d/f/A/d/ F/A/D/f/ | g/e/f/^d/ e/c’/b/a/ | g/e/f/b/ g/e/e/f/ |

g/e/f/^d/ e/b/g/e/ | d/a/f/d/ A/F/D/F/ | G/E/A/F/ B/G/c/A/ | B/c’/b/a/ g/e/e/ ||

 

MAIRE A STOR (Mary My Treasure). AKA and see "Molly Asthore."

           

MAIRE ALBANAC. AKA and see "Scotch Mary."

           

MAIRE AN BRISTE. AKA and see "Breeches Mary."

           

MAIRE AN CUILFIONN. AKA and see "Fairhaired Mary."

                       

MAIRE AN LEAT-PINGEAN. AKA and see "Poll Ha'Penny."

           

MAIRE AN PHORTAIR. AKA and see "Cailleach an Tuirne," "Wreathe the Bowl," "The Wild Irishman [4]", "The Maid at the Spinning Wheel," "Kiss Me Darling," "Norah with the Purse," "The Road to Lurgan," "Norickystie."

           

MAIRI BHAN OG.  See “Mhairi Bhan Og.”

           


MAIRE BHAN’S WEDDING REEL. AKA and see “The Bonnie Bunch of Ferns,” “An Piobaire a’ Cheidigh,” “Piper of Keadue.” Irish, Reel. Ireland, County Donegal. AEae tuning. Donegal fiddler Mickey Doherty told the story of the wedding of a Teelin, Donegal, girl, one Maire Bhan, who received an unexpected visitor, presumably a fairy, during her wedding supper and dance. A small red-haired piper intruded, and neither ate nor drank, but played the whole day and night for the dancing, but especially is remembered for his introducing this reel. Finished, the piper left the cottage, and though followed by the menfolk present he had disappeared as mysteriously as he came.

           

MÁIRE BHEAG O!  AKA and see "Little Molly O!"

           

MÁIRE BHEAL ATHA h-AMHNAIS. AKA and see “Mary from Ballyhaunis.”

           

MÁIRE BHÉICEACH (Roaring Mary). AKA and see “Roaring Mary.”

           

MÁIRE CAD TA ORT, A. AKA and see "Molly What Ails You?"

           

MÁIRE CUIR SIOS AN COIRE, A. AKA and see "Molly Put the Kettle On [3]."

           

MÁIRE DHALL (Blind Mary). AKA and see "Blind Mary."

           

MÁIRE M MIC CARTAIG. AKA and see "Molly McCarthy."

           

MÁIRE MAISEAC NI NIALL. AKA and see "Charming Mary O'Neill."

           

MÁIRE NA BLAITCE. AKA and see "Buttermilk Mary."

           

MÁIRE NA SOP (Maire of the wisp). AKA – “Mary of the Wisp.” Irish, Reel. Ireland, County Donegal. The tune was popularized by fiddler Francie Dearg O’Byrne. See note for the companion tune “Mol na Tiarna.” Feldman & O’Doherty (Northern Fiddler), 1979; pg. 165 (Note: the two tunes have their titles transposed on the page).

           

MÁIRE NÍ EIDHINN. AKA and see "Ruaig an Mí‑ádh" (Banish Misfortune [1]), "The (Little) Bag of Meal," "Humours of Mullina(a)fauna [1]," "Judy Hynes,” "Nancy Hines," “Nancy Hynes,” “Parish Girl [2],” "Round the Carthouse." Irish, Jig. The tune was printed under this title by Petrie in his 1905 Complete Collection (1542). Petrie takes his title from the poem “Máire Ni Éidhin” by Raftery, the blind poet of Connacht, which he wrote in honour of one thought the loveliest girl in Ireland and which is still sung to this tune. See note for “Banish Misfortune,” by which the tune is usually known nowadays.

           

MÁIRE NI GRASAIG. AKA and see "Mary Grace."

           

MÁIRE ÓG NA gCIABH("Young Mary of the Tresses" or "Mary with the Fair Locks"). AKA and see "Mary with the Amber Locks." Irish, Air (3/4 time). D Major/Mixolydian. Standard tuning. One part. O'Neill's (Music of Ireland: 1850 Melodies) prints the identical tune under the title "Mary with the Amber Locks." Source for notated version: the Irish collector Edward Bunting noted the tune at Deel, Castle Ballina, County Mayo, in 1792.  O'Sullivan/Bunting, 1983; No. 68, pgs. 105-106.

X:1

T:Máire Óg na gCiabh

T:Young Mary of the Tresses

M:3/4

L:1/8

R:Air

S:Bunting

K:D

B,C|D2 DEAE|D2 z2 DE|FG A2 AG|F2 z2 Bc|d2 d2 ec|A2 AG FG|A2 d2 de|

d2 z2 d2|=c2 B2 AG|F2 z2 B2|c2d2 ef|d2 z2 B/A/G|F2 E2D2|C2 DEFG|A2 GF ED|D2 z2||

           


MÁIRE O’KEEFFE. Canadian, Reel. Canada, Cape Breton. D Major. Standard tuning. AABB. Composed by luthier, fiddler and composer Otis Tomas (Goose Cove, St. Ann’s Bay, Cape Breton), in appreciation for the hospitality of Maire O’Keeffe, who took him and companions Jerry Holland, Paul MacDonald, Tommy Basker and Paul Stewart Cranford, to sessions in Kerry, Clare and Galway during a tour of Ireland and the United Kingdom (Paul Stewart Cranford). Popularized by Jerry Holland. See also Paul Stewart Cranford’s “Maire’s Welcome.” Cook (Night in the Kitchen Collection), 1996; pg. 16. Cranford (Jerry Holland’s), 1995; No. 126, pg. 36. Fiddlesticks cass., Jerry Holland - “A Session with Jerry Holland” (1990). Green Linnet GLCD 1134, Cherish the Ladies – “Out and About.” Green Linnet, Cherish the Ladies - “Out and About.” Green Linnet GLCD 1187, Cherish the Ladies – “One and All: the Best of Cherish the Ladies” (1998). Smithsonian Folkways Records, SFW CD 40507, The Beaton Family of Mabou – “Cape Breton Fiddle and Piano Music” (2004). 

See also listings at:

Alan Snyder’s Cape Breton Fiddle Recording Index

Alan Ng’s Irishtune.info

           

MÁIRE RUAD. AKA and see "Moll Roe."

           

MÁIRE SAN t-SOP. AKA and see "Moll in the Wad [2]."

           

MAIRÉAD NIC SHIACAIS. AKA and see “Margot Jackson.”

           

MAIREARAD NIGHEAN DOMHNUILL. AKA and see "Margaret MacDonald."

           

MAIREDELIA. Irish, Reel. D Major. Standard tuning. AABB. Composed by County Cavan/Philadelphia fiddle player and composer Ed Reavy (1898-1988), in honor of his grandaughter, Maire, who also has taken up Irish fiddle to compete in regional feises. Reavy (The Collected Compositions of Ed Reavy), No. 8, pg. 8.

X:1

T:Mairedelia

M:2/2

L:1/8

C:Ed Reavy

S:The Collected Compositions of Ed Reavy

R:Reel

N:Mairedelia. Ed's granddaughter, who is carrying on the tradition

N:herself. Maire has won several first place fiddle medals in local

N:and New York area feises.

Z:Joseph Reavy

K:D

|FG|Addc dcAF|FDA,D FGAB|[D=c]Bcd cAGA|d2 fd ^cAGA|dcde (3fga ec|d

cAF GE=CE|DEFG =cBAF|GE=CE D2:||fe|defg abag|e=c (3cBc efge|defg adf

a|gece d2 fg|abag efge|BdcA GE=CE|DEFG dcAF|GE=CE D2:||

           

MÁIRE'S REEL. Irish, Reel. Composed by Irish fiddler Máire Breathnach. Green Linnet SIF‑1094, Capercaille ‑ "Sidewaulk" (1991).

           

MÁIRE’S WELCOME.  Canadian, Reel. Canada, Cape Breton. G Major. Standard tuning. AABB. Composed by Cape Breton fiddler, composer and publisher Paul Stewart Cranford, in honor of Irish fiddler Máire O’Keeffe. See also Otis Thomas’s “Maire O’Keeffe.” Miller (Fiddler’s Throne), 2004; No. 198, pg. 124.

 

MAIRGREAD NI LABAIN. AKA and see "Margaret Lavin."

           

MAIRGREADIN AR AN SUIDEACAN. AKA and see "Poggy on the Settle."

           

MAIRGREADIN CODALTAC. AKA and see "Sleepy Maggie."

 

MAIRGREADIN DEAS. AKA and see "Pretty Peggy."

           

MAIRGREADIN SUANTAC. AKA and see "Drowsy Maggie [1]."

           

MAIRI ALLAN. Scottish, Country Dance Tune (4/4 time). The melody appears in the Bodleian Manuscript (in the Bodleian Library, Oxford), inscribed "A Collection of the Newest Country Dances Performed in Scotland written by D.A. Young, W.M. 1740".

           

MAIRI AN CUILFHIN. AKA and see "Fair‑Haired Mary."

           

MAIRI BHAN OG. AKA and see "Mary, Young and Fair."

 

MAIRI BHEADARACH. AKA and see "Dawted Mary."

 

MAÌRI BHÒIDHEACH [1]. Scottish, Strathspey. F Major. Standard tuning. AAB. Composed by James Stewart-Robertson, editor of The Athole Collection. Stewart-Robertson (The Athole Collection), 1884; pg. 207.

X:1

T:Maìri Bhòidheach [1]

M:C

L:1/8

R:Strathspey

C:James Stewart-Robertson

B:Stewart-Robertson – The Athole Collection  (1884)

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:F

B|A/B/c c>A B<G G>B|A>F A/B/c ~f2 f>g|a/g/f/e/ f>F A<G G>A| F<C D>E ~F2F:|

e|~f>cf>g a/g/f/e/ d>e|~f>cf>a g2 g>a|~f>cf>g a/g/f/e/ d>e| ~f>d c<A F2 F>e |

~f>cf>g a/g/f/e/ d>e|f>cf>a g2 f>g|a/g/f/e/ f>F A<G G>A| F>CD>E F2F||

 

MAIRI BHOIDHEACH [2] (Beautiful Mary). Scottish, Air (3/4 time). F Major. Standard tuning. One part. Morison (Highland Airs and Quicksteps, vol. 1), No. 10, pg. 5.

X:1

T:Mairi Bhoidheach [2]

T:Beautiful Mary

M:3/4

L:1/8

R:Air

N:”Rather slow”

S:Morison – Highland Airs and Quicksteps, vol. 1

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:F

{C}A>A (AG) AG | (FC) D2F2 | {C}F>G A2 A>A | c>A A/G/ z F2 |

{F}(Ac)f2 d>d | (cA) c2 d>c | (3AGF G2 Ac | A>G (GF) F2 :|

 

MAIRI DHONN (Brown Haired Mary). Scottish, Air (2/4 time). D Major. Standard tuning. One part. Morison (Highland Airs and Quicksteps, vol. 1), No. 16, pg. 7.

X:1

T:Mairi dhonn

T:Brown Haired Mary

M:2/4

L:1/8

R:Air

S:Morison – Highland Airs and Quicksteps, vol. 1

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:D

DD d2 | ef A2 | B>c d2 | c>B BA | FA ff | ef d2 | B>A FA | B>F ED ||

 

MAIRI GHREANNAR. AKA and see "Cheerful Mary."

 

MAIRI MHIN MHEAL-SHUILEACH DHU. See “Mary – gentle and dark eyed.”


MAIRI NIGHEAN DEORSA [1] (Mary, George’s Daughter). AKA and see "Grant of Sheuglie's Contest."

 

MAIRI NIGHEAN DEORSA [2] (Mary, George’s Daughter). Scottish, Air. A different melody than “Mairi Nighean Deorsa [1]," appearing in Daniel Dow’s collection. The same melody appears in a manuscript collected around 1810 by the Armagh-born collector Edward Bunting, according to Colm Ó Baoill, without a bass line, with the note that it was “Copie(s?) out of old printed Book.”

 

MÁIRIN BUGGERTY. AKA and see "Buachallin Og [1]," "Big Bow Wow," "An Cailin Deas Donn [1]," "Move up to me,"  "My/The Pretty Fair Maid," "The Pretty Brown Girl [2]," "Did you see my man looking for me? [1]"

                       

MÁIRIN DE BARRA. Irish, Slow Air (3/4 time). D Major. Standard tuning. One part. Ó Canainn (Traditional Slow Airs of Ireland), 1995; No. 71, pg. 63.

                       

MÁIRIN MAISEAC. AKA and see "Lovely Molly."

                       

MÁIRIN NI CHULLENAIN. See “Little Mary Chullenain.”

                       

MAIRI'S WEDDING. AKA – “Mari’s Wedding.” AKA and see “Jack Sweeney’s [3],” "Lewis Bridal Song." Scottish, Scottish Measure (4/4 time). Scotland, Hebrides. G Major. Standard tuning. AABB. The tune is from the Hebrides Islands (the alternate title refers to the Isle of Lewis) which lie off the north coast of Scotland and was first printed in Marjory Kennedy-Fraser’s Songs of the Hebrides (1909). It was written originally in Scots Gaelic and was translated into English a year later by Sir Hugh Robertson. There is nothing that particularly distinguishes this tune as Scottish, notes Emmerson (1972), save for the "hint of Rant in the first two phrases."  Nevertheless, it has had remarkable longevity, and is popular in traditional circles to this day. An article in the Glasgow Daily Record by Stephen Houston claimed that the song "Mairi's Wedding" was originally written for Mary McNiven by her friend Johnny Bannerman (in Gaelic) and was first played to her at the Old Highlanders Institute in Glasgow’s Elmbank Streeet for the Mod of 1935 (where she won the prize for singing). The article states that although the song was written for her, it was not on the occasion of her wedding, but rather for her birthday. In fact, she was unmarried at the time, remained so until she wed Skye-born sea captain John Campbell 6 years later. The article (date unknown) was published the day before Mary's 90th birthday.

***

Chorus:

Step it gaily, off we go

Heel for heel and toe for toe,

Arm in arm and off we go (or ‘row on row’)

All for Mairi's wedding.

***

Over hillways up and down

Myrtle green and bracken brown,

Past the sheiling through the town

All for sake of Mairi.

***

Plenty herring, plenty meal

Plenty peat to fill her creel,

Plenty bonny bairns as weel

That's the toast for Mairi.

***

Cheeks as bright as rowans are

Brighter far than any star,

(or Red her cheeks as rowans are

Bright her eye as any star)

Fairest o' them all by far

Is my darlin' Mairi.

***

Miller & Perron (New England Fiddler’s Repertoire), 1983; No. 54. Silberberg (Tunes I Learned at Tractor Tavern), 2002; pg. 96 (appears as “Mari’s Wedding”). Kicking Mule KM216, Strathspey ‑ "New England Contra Dance Music" (1977. Appears as “Mari’s Wedding”). Tradition 2118, Jim MacLeod & His Band ‑ "Scottish Dances: Jigs, Waltzes and Reels" (1979).

X:1

T:Mairi’s Wedding

M:C

L:1/8

R:Scottish Measure

K:G

|:D3E D2E2|G2A2B4|A2G2E2G2|B2A2Bd3|D3E D2E2|G2A2B3c/B/|A2G2E2C2|D8:|

|:d4 d3e|d2c2B4|A2G2E2G2|B2A2Bd3|d2Bd2e|d2c2B3c/B/|A2G2E2C2|D8:|