Annotation:Mrs. Maxwell (1)
X:1 T:Madam Maxwell M:C L:1/8 R:Air C:Carolan B:Samuel, Anne & Peter Thompson – The Hibernian Muse B:(London, 1787, No. 57, p. 35) N:”A Collection of the most Favorite Compositions N:of Carolan the Celebrated Irish Bard” Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion K:G d2 (e<d) (d<B) G2|B4 d2d2g2|fg a2 ga b2|ab c'2 {c'}b2a2| g2d2 {c}B2 {A}G2|c2e2e2g2|{g}f2d2a2{g}f2|g4 g4|| d'2g2d'2g2|c'2e'2e'2 d'c'|b2g2d'2 c'b|{d'}c'2a2a2c’2| bc'd'2 c'd'e'2|d'2c'2b2a2|g2e2a2g2|f4 {e}d4| g4 (gfed)|B2G2B2d2|fg a2 {b}a2g2|f2d2d2 (ef)| (gfed) (edcB)|c2e2e2d2|(edcB) cBTAG|G4 G4|]
MRS. MAXWELL [1] (Baintighearna Macsbhell). AKA and see "Madam Maxwell," "Planxty Madam Maxwell." Irish, Air or Planxty (2/4 time). E Major (Complete Collection, O'Sullivan/Bunting): D Major (O'Neill): G Major (Thompson). Standard tuning (fiddle). AB (Complete Collection, O'Neill/Krassen, O'Sullivan/Bunting, Thompson): AAB (O'Neill/1850). Composed by the great blind Irish harper Turlough O'Carolan (1670-1738). Mrs. Maxwell, writes O'Sullivan (1983), was probably Judith Barry (1699-1771) of Newtown Barry, Co. Wexford, daughter of James Barry. She married John Maxwell of Farnham, Co. Cavan, in 1719, who later became M.P. for Cavan (from 1727-1756), High Sherriff (1739), and, upon succeeding to the estate of Farnham on the death of a cousin, became in 1756 the Baron Farnham of Farnham, Co. Cavan, thus transforming Mrs. Maxwell into Lady Farnham. One of the settings of this tune, for which no words have been found, was recorded by the Belfast Northern Star of July 15, 1792, as having been played in competition by one of ten Irish harp masters at the last great convocation of ancient Irish harpers, the Belfast Harp Festival, held that week.
