Annotation:Bridget Cruise (2)

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BRIDGET CRUISE [2]. Irish, Planxty (3/4 time). G Mixolydian (Complete Collection): F Mixolydian (Bunting, O'Neill). Standard tuning (fiddle). AB (O'Neill): AAB (Complete Collection). Composed by Turlough O'Carolan (1670-1738), and the only one composed in the traditional style. O'Neill (1913) relates the story that near his father's house was a rath, in the interior of which the fairies were believed to hold court. After O'Carolan became blind he would prevail upon neighbors and friends to lead him to the site and leave him for hours, "stretched listlessly before the sun." Occasionally he would startle, as if in the midst of visions, and upon one such occasion he called to his friends to lead him home, whereupon he took up his harp and in little time played and sang the air and words of this song addressed to Bridget Cruise, the object of his early mature affections (who unfortunately did not return his sentiment). O'Neill says, "So sudden and so captivating was it, that it was confidently attributed to fairy inspiration. From that hour he became a poet and composer."

Source for notated version: O'Sullivan (1958) indicates the source for the tune was the Pigot Manuscript, where it was given by Patrick MacDowell. Collector Edward Bunting also obtained a version of this air from harper Denis Hempson.

Printed sources:

Source for notated version:

Printed sources: Bunting (A General Collection of the Ancient Music of Ireland), 1809; p. 31. Complete Collection of Carolan's Irish Tunes, 1984; No. 27, p. 39. O'Neill (Irish Minstrels and Musicians), 1913; p. 71. O'Sullivan (Carolan: The Life Times and Music of an Irish Harper), 1958; No. 27, p. 117.

Recorded sources:

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