Annotation:Mary Queen of Scots (1)

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MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS. Irish, Reel (cut time). D Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AB, AABB. Researcher Conor Ward finds this tune under the "Mary Queen of Scots" title contained in the O'Farrell-Reynolds collection of Gaigue, Ballinamuck, Co. Longford. It is a cognate of the popular reel "Roaring Mary." Ward also finds a version called "Scotch Molly" in the c. 1883 music manuscript collection of fiddler Stephen Grier, of Gortletteragh, Co. Leitrim. The title suggest to him that the tune is of Scottish origin, and he concludes: "These two local [Leinster] versions are different to others that have been published. For instance, the normal motif at the start of the second part that goes from a high 'a' to high 'f' to a 'd' in thirds, i.e. a-f-d is replaced in the local versions by a-g-d. It's a subtle difference, but changes the tune structure."

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