Annotation:Miss Murphy (1)

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MISS MURPHY [1]. Irish, Planxty (cut time). C Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AB. Composed by blind Irish harper Turlough O'Carolan (1670-1738). Donal O’Sullivan, in his seminal 1958 volume on O’Carolan (Carolan: The Life, Times and Music of an Irish Harper) noted that, in the absence of any words or other information, it was not possible to identify the “Miss Murphy” of the song. O'Sullivan's source for the tune is The Hibernian Muse; a Collection of Irish Airs, including the Most Favourite Compositions of Carolan, the Celebrated Irish Bard [1], by S., A. and P. Thompson, London, c. 1786. There is a "similar, but not identical" setting in John Lee's A Favourite Collection of the so much admired old Irish Tunes, the original and genuine compositions of Carolan, the celebrated Irish Bard. Set for the harpsichord, violin and German-flute, published in Dublin in 1780.

Source for notated version:

Printed sources: Complete Collection of Carolan's Irish Tunes, 1984; No. 105, p. 79. O'Sullivan (Carolan: The Life Times and Music of an Irish Harper), 1958; No. 105, p. 157. Samuel, Anne & Peter Thompson (The Hibernian Muse), London; 1787, No. 76, p. 47.

Recorded sources:

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