Blind Mary

polka

Key signature: Dmajor

Submitted on January 26th 2003 by lazyhound.

This tune has been added to 88 tunebooks.

Recordings of a tune by this name:

• A Whistle On The Wind by Joanie Madden
• Ag Cur Na Samhradh by Samhradh
• Beauty In Tears by The O'Carolan Quartet
• Bonaparte's Retreat by The Chieftains
• Citternalia by Joseph Sobol
• Drops Of Brandy by Sean McAloon And John Rea
• Harping Bach To Carolan by Anne-Marie O'Farrell
• Irish Traditional Music (on Uilleann Pipes, Hammered Dulcimer, Fiddle, Flute And Whistle) by Various Artists
• Live In Alaska by Surreel
• Mosaic: Celtic Harp by Therese Honey
• North Amerikay by Dale Russ And Finn Macginty
• Off She Goes by Gerry Hegarty And Claire Watts
• On Two Levels by Sean Maguire
• Play It By Ear by Dinny McLaughlin
• Portraid by Sean Maguire
• Skin And Bone by Dave Swarbrick And Martin Carthy
• The Art Of Turlough O'Carolan - Piano Arrangements Of The Famous Airs And Laments by J.J. Sheridan
• The Complete Works Of Turlough O' Carolan (1670-1738) - Disc 7 by J.J. Sheridan
• The Coolin': Classic Slow Airs And Laments by Various Artists
• The Curlew by Cliff Moses
• The Floating Bowhand by Jim McKillop
• The Master's Choice by Bobby Gardiner
• The Music Of Turlough O'Carolan by Patrick Ball
• The O'Carolan Quartet by The O'Carolan Quartet
• The Rowsome Tradition: Five Generations Of Uileann Piping by Kevin Rowsome
• To Hell With The Begrudgers by Seamus Tansey And Jim McKillop
• Traditional Music Of Ireland by Various Artists

X: 1
T: Blind Mary
M: 2/4
L: 1/8
R: polka
K: Dmaj
A|d2 d>c|B2 AF/G/|A>B AF|E3 FG|
Af f>e|dB AD/E/|F>G E>D|D3||
d/e/|f>g fB|e>c AB/c/|d>D DE/F/|E3 A/G/|
F>G Ad|f>e dD/E/|F>G E>D|D3||

This is a tune in a group of about a dozen Carolan tunes that we go to if we want to play something a little slower and relaxing towards the end of a busy session, perhaps when the pub is starting to empty, (a bit of Carolan sometimes hastens the process!)
Note: this is NOT a polka - polkas weren't around in Carolan's time. It just happens to be in 2/4.

# Posted on January 26th 2003 by lazyhound

Here is an ornamented version

A|d2 d>c|{c}B2 A(F/G/)|A>B AF|E3 (FG)|
(Af) (f>e)|(dB) A(D/E/)|(F>G) ({F}E>D)|D3||
(d/e/)|f>g fB|e>c (AB/c/)|d>D D(E/F/)|E3 (A/G/)|
(F>G) Ad|f>e d(D/E/)|(F>G) ({F}E>D)|D3||

# Posted on January 26th 2003 by lazyhound

Joanie Madden's recording of Blind Mary is so good it gives me chills. I can't imagine being able to translate its essence into abc with the emotion and ornamentation that makes it live and breathe.

Alice

# Posted on January 27th 2003 by aliceflynn

Trevor, I've previously printed out sheet music of Blind Mary found on other abc sites (disappointed) but I just converted to notes the version you posted - much closer to the Blind Mary melody than others I've found. Thank you.

# Posted on January 27th 2003 by aliceflynn

What an awful tune, I cant believe anyone would get chills from this tune.

# Posted on January 28th 2003 by bb

Say it from the heart bb!

# Posted on January 28th 2003 by Dow

I'm sure it sounds horrible played as a polka. As Jeremy keeps saying, post slow airs at your own peril.

It was worth a laugh though, just to think of Turlough O'Carolan doing the polka.

# Posted on January 28th 2003 by glauber

What, dancing or playing it? Since he was blind, the thought of Carolan dancing the polka indeed gives me chills.

zls

# Posted on January 28th 2003 by Zina Lee

As I said, a touch of Carolan last thing in a session can sometimes have the effect of clearing the pub just that little quicker. The bar staff approve.

# Posted on January 29th 2003 by lazyhound

Old Turlough, playing the harp AND dancing the polka! Neat trick, really.

# Posted on January 29th 2003 by glauber

Blind Mary

While clearly not a polka, I disagree with those saying it sounds horrible. It is a great tune and, if played with some emotion at a moderate pace, it really is quite nice. While playing toward the end of a night when a slower pace might be welcomed, if played with care, the people stay, not leave.

# Posted on February 17th 2004 by Bob MacLean

And some of the finest dancers I have had the pleasure of teaching or taking the floor with have been blind... The only problems were with the jerks that didn't know how to accept they knew what they were doing, some even refusing to give hands in say a chain. Now that is sad...

# Posted on May 13th 2005 by ceolachan

Anyone who thinks this an awful air clearly hasn't heard it before. I heard someone say that a lot of Carolan's tunes are portraits, and I agree, especially with this one.

# Posted on May 10th 2008 by t.feighery