Annotation:Cumha an Dé-Bhean Sí

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CUMHA AN DÉ-BHEAN SÍ (Lament of the Fairy Goddess). Irish, Air (4/4 time). G Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABC. The piece was composed by either John or Harry Scott, two brothers born in the County of Westmeath and both eminent composers and performers on the harp. The brothers, who lived at the end of the 16th century and beginning of the 17th century, were renowned particularly for their "Caoinans," or dirge pieces; "In this line they have produced pathetic movements for Purcell, Baron of Loughmoe, and O'Hussey, Baron Galtrim" (Bunting, 1840). O'Sullivan (1983) provides extensive musical analysis of the piece.

Source for notated version: the Irish collector Edward Bunting noted the melody from Dominic O'Donnell, a harper at Foxford, County Mayo, in 1802. It was published in Bunting's 1840 collection (p. 92).

Printed sources: O'Sullivan/Bunting, 1983; No. 122, pp. 171-174.

Recorded sources:

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