Annotation:Mrs. Maxwell (1)

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 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). Standard tuning (fiddle). AB (Complete Collection, O'Neill/Krassen, O'Sullivan/Bunting): 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.  Source for notated version: the Irish collector Edward Bunting obtained the tune from Hugh Higgins, and based on a version noted from Charles Fannin the harper in 1792.  Printed sources: Complete Collection of Carolan's Irish Tunes, 1984; No. 101, p. 77. O'Neill (Krassen), 1976; p. 234. O'Neill (Music of Ireland: 1850 Melodies), 1903; No. 659, p. 118. O'Sullivan (Carolan: The Life, Times and Music of an Irish Harper), 1958; No. 101, p. 155. O'Sullivan/Bunting, 1983; No. 93, pp. 137-138.  Recorded sources: Cló Iar-Chonnachta CICD 173, Brian Conway – “Consider the Source” (2008. Appears as “Madam Maxwell”). Shanachie 79013, Derek Bell - "Carolan's Receipt" (1987).  See also listing at: Jane Keefer's Folk Music Index: An Index to Recorded Sources Alan Ng's Irishtune.info

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