Annotation:Merry Merchant (2) (The)
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MERRY MERCHANT [2], THE (An Ceannaide SĂșgac). AKA and see "Bright Sun's Glorious Ray," "Canny SĂșgach," "Jolly Merchant," "Merchant's Daughter (1)," "Who'll buy my besoms?," "World is Turned Upside Down." Irish, March (4/4 time). D Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AB. O'Neill (1913) states there was a special dance performed to this melody which required particular agility; "for nothing more complimentary could be said of a young man's activity than to remark 'he could dance the Canny Sugach." A rollicking song was also sung to the air at least as late as the middle of the 19th century (O'Neill, 1913).
O'Neill probably references the song "An Ceannaide SĂșgach" (Jolly Pedlar (The)), set to several duple and triple time airs, for a few of which see "Jolly Pedlar (1) (The)," "Jolly Pedlar (2) (The)" and "Jolly Pedlar (3) (The)."
Source for notated version:
Printed sources: O'Neill (Music of Ireland: 1850 Melodies), 1903; No. 1843, p. 347. O'Neill (Dance Music of Ireland: 1001 Gems), 1907; No. 993, p. 171. O'Neill (Irish Minstrels and Musicians), 1913; p. 430.
Recorded sources: