Annotation:Mary Grace

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MARY GRACE (Máire Ni Grasaig). Irish, Reel. A Dorian. Standard tuning (fiddle). AA'BB'. The great collector and compiler Francis O'Neill learned this tune from County Mayo piper James O'Brien, who visited Chicago (where O'Neill worked in the police department) in 1876. O'Neill describes him as "a neat, tasty Irish piper of the Connacht school of close players, and though his Union pipes were small, they were sweet and musical...One of his peculiarities-and an unpleasant one, occasionally-was a habit of stopping the music in order to indulge in conversation. He could not be induced to play a tune in full, when under the influence of stimulants, as his loquacity was uncontrollable, and he never hesitated under such conditions to express a passing sentiment. Amiable and harmless at all times, he died at a comparatively early age in Chicago, a victim to conviviality, his only weakness."

See also the related "Bohola," "Martin Ainsborough’s," "Martin Ansboro’s Reel."

Source for notated version: piper Jimmy O'Brien (County Mayo) [O'Neill].

Printed sources: O'Neill (Krassen), 1976; p. 106. O'Neill (Music of Ireland: 1850 Melodies), 1903; No. 1256, p. 236. O'Neill (Dance Music of Ireland: 1001 Gems), 1907; No. 526, p. 99.

Recorded sources:

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