The Merry Harriers

reel

Key signature: Adorian

Submitted on December 19th 2002 by Dow.

This tune has been added to 53 tunebooks.

Also known as Merry Harrier's, The Merry Harrier, Merry Harriers.

Recordings of a tune by this name:

• 60th Anniversary Celebration by The Tulla Ceili Band
• An Phíb by Dicky Deegan
• Beal A' Mhurlaigh by P.J. And Marcus Hernon
• Celtic Aire by Dordan
• Celtic Dance by Various Artists
• Celtic Passion by John Williams, Dean Magraw
• Dancing Through Ireland by Various Artists
• Hives Of Honeyed Sound by Padraic Mac Mathuna
• Irish Dance Music by Various Artists
• Irish Dance Music - Folkways LP by Various Artists
• Irish Traditional Music In America: Chicago by Various Artists
• It's A Hard Road To Travel by Andy McGann And Paul Brady
• Jigs To The Moon by Dordan
• Master Irish Fiddle Player by Tommy Peoples
• Piano + by Geraldine Cotter
• Tacsi. Ceol by Various Artists
• The First Month Of Spring by John Vesey And Paul Brady
• The Life Of Riley's Brother by Colcannon
• The Old Fireside Music by Mike And Mary Rafferty
• The Red Crow by Altan
• The Windy Gap by Laurence Nugent
• Traditional Music Of Ireland by Various Artists
• Upon My Soul by James Carty
• Wired by Michael McGoldrick

X: 1
T: Merry Harriers, The
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
R: reel
K: Ador
|:gfg|eA~A2 eAgA|eA~A2 BGBd|eA~A2 eg~g2|abge d:|
|:cBc|dg~g2 bg~g2|dggd BGBc|dggf gabg|abge d:|

There are a few different settings for this one. One of the O'Neill's settings stays in Ador for the 2nd part, but I find it too easy to lapse into something like "The Flowers Of Red Hill" halfway thru' if I play this version. The version posted here is like the one Altan play, and although it is unusual to hear this tune played at sessions, I reckon it's most likely that you'll hear their version if people have learnt it off the CD (The Red Crow). The harmony of the whole tune is based on the fact that if you end each part on a chord of D, it is possible to be propelled either back into Ador, or on into Gmaj (or Emin) for the 2nd part. I prefer to back Emin for the 2nd part, but I think Altan do it in G. I've chosen to post this version because if you play the Ador 2nd part in a session then it's likely that people will think you're playing "The Fair-haired Lass" with the parts switched around, since that is the better-known reel.

# Posted on December 19th 2002 by Dow

Whoops, that B first bar 2nd line is meant to be B, not b.

# Posted on December 20th 2002 by Dow