The Little Diamond

polka

Key signature: Dmajor

Submitted on March 21st 2002 by Brad Maloney.

This tune has been added to 55 tunebooks.

Also known as The Girl From Lettermore, Little Diamond, The Littler Diamond, Magic Slipper.

Recordings of a tune by this name:

• An Toilean Aerach by Johnny Connolly
• éirí Go Lá by Seamus Begley And Jim Murray
• Dance Music Of Ireland: Volume 8 by Matt Cunningham
• Foinn Seisiun 1 by Ceoltóirí Cultúrlainne
• Irish Dances by Various Artists
• Midnight On The Water by The Kings River Band
• Russell's House by Russell's House
• Sceal Eile by Gerry Harrington And Eoghan O'Sullivan
• The Heather Breeze by Heathery Breeze Ceili Band
• The Moneymusk by Hammy Hamilton
• The Mouse Behind The Dresser by Shaskeen
• The Professor by James Morrison

X: 1
T: Little Diamond, The
M: 2/4
L: 1/8
R: polka
K: Dmaj
B2 | A>B AF | DE FD | A>B AF | GF EF | DE FG | AB cd | ed ce | d2 :||!
e2 | f2 ge | fd cB | Ad cd | fe e2 | f2 ge | fd cB | Ag ec | d2 :||!

The Magic Slipper

Some people call this the "Magic Slipper" which James Morrison & Tom Carmondy recorded as a set preceding "The Little Diamond". Since they just listed the Set as "The Magic Slipper" the title of the two polka's are often confused.

There was a concertina album (I forget who or which one) where they listed this as the "Girl from Lettermore" so I listed that alternate title as well.

But you know what they say about polka titles ...

# Posted on March 21st 2002 by Brad Maloney

T:Little Diamond, The
M:2/4
L:1/8
S:Hammy Hamilton - "The Moneymusk"
R:polka
Z:gm
K:Dmaj
| A>B AF | DF Ad | A2 AF | GF EF | D>E FG | AB cd | e>d ce | d2 d2 :||!
| f2 g>e | fd cB | Ad cd | fe e2 | f2 g>e | fd cB | ag ec | d2 d2:||!

# Posted on December 27th 2004 by gian marco

The Magic Slipper / Little Diamond

When played on the fiddle I believe this tune is at its best in the key of G, so here is a G-major version:

T:Little Diamond
R:polka
M:2/4
L:1/8
K:G
d>e dB | G>F GB | d>e d>B | cB A2 | GA Bc | de fg | ag fa | g2 g2 :|
|: g2g>a | bg c'a | bg fg | ba a2 | bg c'a | bg fe | dc' af | g2 g2 :||

The B-part involves some slightly tricky fingering and position shifting, so for those who would like to enjoy playing this polka until they've sorted out the aforesaid tricky bits, I offer this simpler version of the B-part:
|: g2 g>a | bg fa | bg fg | ba a2 | bg fa | bgfe | dg af |g2 g2 :||

# Posted on June 30th 2007 by lazyhound

As Henrik Norbeck got it:

X:76
T:Little Diamond, The
T:Girl from Lettermore, The
R:polka
H:On the Begley & Cooney recording it is called "The Magic Slipper",
H:which is actually the name of another polka which was recorded in the
H:same medley as this polka in 1936 by James Morrison and Tom Carmody.
D:Begley & Cooney: Meitheal
Z:id:hn-polka-76
M:2/4
L:1/8
K:D
A>B AF|DF Ad|A>B AF|GF EF/E/|DE FG|AB cd|e>d ce|1 d2 dB:|2 d2 de||
fd ge|fd cB|Ad cd|fe ed/e/|fd ge|fd cB|Ag ec|d2 d>e|
fa ge|fd cB|Ad cd|fe ed/e/|fd ge|fd cB|Ag ec|d2 dB||

# Posted on September 23rd 2008 by brotherstorm