Annotation:Carolan's Devotion
X:1 T:Carland’s Devotion (Carolan’s Devotion) M:3/4 L:1/8 Q:"Very slow" B:Daniel Wright – Aria di Camera (London, 1727, No. 42) N:”being A Choice Collection of Scotch, Irish & Welsh Airs N:for the Violin and German Flute by the following masters N:Mr. Alex. Urquahart of Edinburgh, Mr. Dermot O'Connar of Limrick N:Mr. Hugh Edwards of Carmarthen” F:https://ia600808.us.archive.org/20/items/AriaDiCamera1727/Wright-AriaDiCamera-1727.pdf Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion K:Gmin (f/g/a)|b2 (a/g/)f (f/g/a)|(gf)(ed) (d/e/f)|(dc)(BA)(GF)|F4 (GA)| B2 (Bd)(cB)|c2 (df)(gd)|(cB)(AG)(FA)|G4|| (G/F/E)|D2G2G2|G>AG>F EF|D2(F2F2)|F>GF>E DF| D2(B2B2)|(Bc)(AB)(GA)|F2 f2 (fg)|f4 (f/g/a)| b2 (ba)(gb)|b2d2d2|d>cB>cd>e|f2A2A2| B>AG>AB>c|d2G2 (F/G/A)|(GF)(ED)(DE)|D4 (c/d/e)| f2f2 (f/g/a)|(gf)(ed) f2|(dc)(BA)(GF)|F4 (F/G/A)| B2 (Bd)(cB)|c2 (df)(gd)|(cB)(AG) (GA)|G4||
CAROLAN'S DEVOTION (Subailce Uí Cearballain). AKA - "O'Carolan's Devotion (2)." AKA and see "Miss Fetherston." Irish, Air (3/4 time). G Minor/Dorain. Standard tuning (fiddle). AB (Mulholland): AAB (Aird, Bunting, Mulhollan, Thompson). Composed by Turlough O'Carolan (1670-1738); the only air he set to English words (albeit in bad English). It was composed in 1719 for a Miss Fe(a)therstone, of Ardagh, County Longford who was on her way to church at Granard one Sunday of that year when she chanced to meet the blind harper on the road. O'Neill (1913) records the conversation:
"Your servant, Mr O'Carolan," she saluted, "I thank you."
"Who speaks to me?" he replied.
"It is I, sir, one Miss Featherstone."
"I've heard of you, Madam: a young lady of great beauty and much wit. The loss of one sense prevents my beholding your beauty; and I believe it is a happy circumstance for me, for I am assured it has made many captives. But your wit, Madam! I dread it."
"Had I wit, Mr. O'Carolan, this is not the day for its display. It should give place to the duty of prayer. \ I apprehend that in complying with this duty, you go one way, and I go another-- I wish I could prevail with you to quit your way for mine."
"Should I go your way, Madam, I dread you yourself would be the chief object of my devotion."
Miss Featherstone invited the bard to visit her house and admonished him to pray for her at church, and O'Carolan said, "Could I withdraw my Devotion from yourself, I would obey; but I will make the best effort I can. Adieu, adieu." The harper did not make it to church, however, but instead used the time to compose this song for her. Collector Francis O'Neill called the music, which compasses almost two octaves, "of a high order." See Annotation:Miss Fetherston for more notes on this tune.
