Annotation:Handsome Molly
X:1 T:Handsome Molly M:C L:1/8 R:Reel B:Stephen Grier music manuscript collection (Book 2, c. 1883, No. 27, p. 5) B: http://grier.itma.ie/book-two#?c=0&m=0&s=0&cv=4&z=351.1926%2C322.1745%2C2035.1124%2C711.9166 N:Stephen Grier (c. 1824-1894) was a piper and fiddler from N:Newpark, Bohey, Gortletteragh, south Co. Leitrim. Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion K:Emin E2 BE GF/E/ BE|E2 BE FE/D/ AF|E2 BE GF/E/ BE|dABG FAAF| E2 BE GF/E/ BE|E2 BE FE/D/ AF|B2 BE GF/E/ BE|dABG FE D2|| fedB ABde|fedB AF D2|edef gfed|Bc/d/ AG FE D2| fedB ABde|fedB AF D2|egfa gfed|Bc/d/ AG FAAF||
HANDSOME MOLLY. Irish, Reel (whole time). E Minor. Standard tuning (fiddle). AB. The reel was entered into Book 2 of the c. 1883 music manuscript collection of County Leitrim piper and fiddler Stephen Grier (c. 1824-1894). The first strain is a relative of the "Handsome Sally (1)"/"Merry Thatcher (The)" tune family.
There is an Irish-derived ballad named "Handsome Molly," a "mountain love song", that was recorded by North Carolina fiddler and singer G.B. Grayson in the 78 RPM era. It is also known as "Black Eyed Mary," and is associated with "The Irish Girl" and "The Lover's Lament," however, there is probably no musical relationship with Grier's reel.
