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The Hermit From Killarney polka

Also known as John Kelly’s, Scotch Mary.

There are 25 recordings of this tune.

This tune has been recorded together with

The Hermit From Killarney appears in 1 other tune collection.

The Hermit From Killarney has been added to 3 tune sets.

The Hermit From Killarney has been added to 70 tunebooks.

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Four settings

1
X: 1
T: The Hermit From Killarney
R: polka
M: 2/4
L: 1/8
K: Ador
A>B|cE ED|cd e>d|cE BA|G2 GA/B/|
cE ED|cd e>d|cA B/A/G|A2:|Ac/d/||
ea a>b|ag ed|^cd ef|g2 fg|
ea a>b|ag ed|~c2 BG|A2 Ac/d/|
ea a>b|ag ed|^cd ef|g2 fg|
a/g/f g/f/e|fd e>d|^cA BG|A2|
2
X: 2
T: The Hermit From Killarney
R: polka
M: 2/4
L: 1/8
K: Ador
|:AB/A/ GE|cd e/f/e/d/|cA GE|G2 EG|
AB/A/ GE|cd e/f/e/d/|cA BG|1 A2 AE:|2 A2 Ad||
ea a/b/a/g/|ed e/f/e/d/|^cd e(f|g2) fg|
ea a/b/a/g/|ed e/f/e/d/|cA BG|A2 Ad|
ea a/b/a/g/|ed e/f/e/d/|A/B/^c/d/ e(f|g2) fg|
af ge|fd e/f/e/d/|cA BG|A2 AE||
3
X: 3
T: The Hermit From Killarney
R: polka
M: 2/4
L: 1/8
K: Ador
|:E|A2 GE|cd e>d|cA GE|G2 cB|
AB/A/ G/F/E|cd e/f/e/d/|cA B^G|A2- A:|
|:d|ea a>g|ed e/f/e/d/|B/^c/d ef|ga/g/ fg|
[1 ea a/b/a/g/|ea e>d|cA B^G|A2- A:|
[2 af g/f/e/g/|fd e/f/e/d/|cA Bc/B/|A2- A||
4
X: 4
T: The Hermit From Killarney
R: polka
M: 2/4
L: 1/8
K: Ador
AB/A/ GE|cd e>d|cA GE|G2 EG|
AB/A/ GE|cd e>d|cA BG|A2 A2:|
|:ea e>d|ea e>d|(3B^cd ef|g2 fg|
[1 ea e>d|ea e>d|(3cBA BG|A2 A2:|
[2 ab/a/ ge|fd ed|cA BG|A2 A2||

Fourteen comments

Source: James Kelly, Paddy O’Brien, Daithi Sproule.- “Traditional Music of Ireland”
Transcription: g.m.p.

Name of the album

Gian Marco, as far as I know the album is called ‘Spring is in the Air’ (Shanachie); lovely album, lovely polka(set) !

Henk, I have the album, and his name is “Trad. Music of Ireland”.
Maybe there is another edition with another name.
Lovely Album!

This sounds like the reel “Scotch Mary” got made into a polka. Seriously --- Hum the reel, then follow along bit by bit in the polka and tell me that it doesn’t sound like a “Scotch Mary” polka!

The Hermit From Killarney

I picked up this excellent “minor” polka from box player Paudie O’Connor’s CD “Different State”. Upon hearing the CD for the first time, I was immediately struck by the fact that his rhythmic phrasing on the polkas is very much akin to the way a fiddler would approach them in that style. This tune might be good companion (or replacement, if you’re restless) to the well- known Ballydesmond polkas.

“The Hermit From Killarney” ~ familiar, if not the name

Here’s some other possibilities with this lovely polka…. 😎

X: 2
T: Hermit From Killarney, The
M: 2/4
L: 1/8
R: polka
K: Ador
|: E |\
A2 GE | cd e>d | cA GE | G2 cB |
AB/A/ G/F/E | cd e/f/e/d/ | cA B^G | A2- A :|
|: d |\
ea a>g | ed e/f/e/d/ | B/^c/d ef | ga/g/ fg |
[1 ea a/b/a/g/ | ea e>d | cA B^G | A2- A :|
[2 af g/f/e/g/ | fd e/f/e/d/ | cA Bc/B/ | A2- A |]

It also sounds nice…

with F naturals in the A part.

Also, *perhaps*, all C sharps in the B part (this would provide an interesting contrast between Aeolian and Mixlydian modes).

Posted by .

Yes, I like playing the A-part it with F nats…

I just learned this tune from the man himself, we had a nice spring day sesh at a park in Providence.

Check this guys tunes, although I gave him him the “bug” he’s invested sooo much more time to the tunes & is a brilliant resource for music.