Annotation:Maude Millar (2)
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MAUD(E) MILLAR [2]. AKA and see "Donegal Boys," "Eileen Curran's (2)," "I Wish I Never Saw You," "Killoran's Reel (1)," "Magic Slipper (1) (The)," "Montua (The)," "Morrison's Reel (2)," "Mrs. Smullen's," "My Love is Fair and Handsome (1)," "Paddy McFadden's (1)." Irish, Reel. G Major (most versions): F Major (McGuire & Keegan). Standard tuning (fiddle). AB (Breathnach): AAB (Mallinson, Taylor): AABB (McGuire & Keegan, Miller). Editor David Taylor (1992) says "evidently a very old tune," though does not say why; perhaps it is because of the variety of titles. It is sometimes found in older manuscripts in the key of F Major, and occasionally is heard played in that key in modern times. However, the title "Maude Millar" for this tune on printed sheet music seems to have been fairly recent, dating to O'Neill's Music of Ireland (1903). O'Neill spelled the first name of the title with an 'e', but there are many instances of 'Maud Miller' as well, as in the Alex Sutherland (1873-1967) manuscript of County Leitrim, and the 20th century manuscript of Michael Reilly and his daughter Marie.
Both Breathnach and Bulmer & Sharpley printed the reel in 1976 as an untitled tune. The reel was popularized by James Morrision, who recorded the tune as "Maud Millar" for Columbia records in New York in 1935 in a medley with his own composition, “Skylark (The).” The alternate titles "Killoran's Reel (1)" and "Morrison's Reel (2)" come from Sligo-style fiddlers John Vesey and Andy McGann, respectively, while the "Mrs. Smullen's" title is from Packie Duigan and Seamus Horan. Mrs. Smullen--Theresa Smullen--is an accordion player originally from Drumshambo, now living with her husband Paddy (who sings and plays the spoons) in County Galway. See also the related "Strawberry Beds," "Donegal Boys" and "My Love is Fair and Handsome (1)." The note for "Annotation:I Wish I Never Saw You" has more on this large tune family.
Source for notated version: County Roscommon fiddler Joe McGlynn [Breathnach].
Printed sources: Breathnach (CRÉ II), 1976; No. 212, p. 110 (appears as "Gan ainm"/unknown). Bulmer & Sharpley (Music from Ireland), vol. 3; 11 (appears as untitled reel). Mallinson (100 Essential), 1995; No. 3, p. 2. McGuire & Keegan (Irish Tunes by the 100, vol. 1), 1975; No. 67, p. 18. Miller (Fiddler's Throne), 2004; No. 206, p. 128. Taylor (Through the Half-door), 1992; No. 48, p. 33. Vallely (Play Fifty Reels with the Armagh Pipers Club), 1982; 30.
Recorded sources: Compass Records 7 4446 2,Oisíin McAuley - "From the Hills of Donegal" (2007). Green Linnet GLCD1026, James Keane - "Roll Away the Reel World" (1980). Green Linnet GLCD3008, "Matt Molloy" (1984). Shanachie 79006, Mary Bergin - "Feadoga Stain 1." Tara CD401, Frankie Gavin - "Fierce Traditional." Temple COMD2063, Seamus Tansey - "Easter Snow" (1996). Shaskeen - "Shaskeen Live." Dezi Donnelly - "Familiar Footsteps."
See also listings at:
Jane Keefer's Folk Music Index: An Index to Recorded Sources [1]
Alan Ng's Irishtune.info [2]
Hear James Morrison's recording at the Comhaltas Archive [3]
Hear fiddler's Andy McGann and Paddy Reynolds play the tune at the Comhaltas Archive [4]
Hear flute player Matt Molloy with Donal Lunny play the tune at the Comhaltas Archive [5]