Mary Young And Fair waltz

Also known as Fair Young Mary, Máire Bhán Óg, Mairi Bhan, Mairi Bhan Og, Mháiri Bhán Óg.

There are 6 recordings of this tune.

Mary Young And Fair has been added to 5 tune sets.

Mary Young And Fair has been added to 65 tunebooks.

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Two settings

1
X: 1
T: Mary Young And Fair
R: waltz
M: 3/4
L: 1/8
K: Amin
E|:A>BA c2d|e2c d>cB|e2A A>BA|G3 z2 E|
A>BA c2d|e2c deg|e2c dcB|1 A3 z2E:|2 A3 z2 e/g/||
a>ba g2f|e2c deg|e2A A>BA|G3 z2 E|
A>BA c2d|e2c agf|e2c dcB|A3 z2 e/g/|
a>ba g2f|e2c deg|e2A A>BA|G3 z2 E|
c>Bc d>cd|e>de c'2 b/a/|e2c d>cB|A3A3||
2
X: 2
T: Mary Young And Fair
R: waltz
M: 3/4
L: 1/8
K: Amin
|:E|A>BA c2 d|e2 c dcA|e2 A AB|A2 G4:|
A4 eg|aaa g2 f|e2 c2 ag|e2 A A>B|G4 E2|
A>BA c2 d|e2 c AGF|e2 c dcB|A4 eg|
a>aa g2 f|c3 B A2|e2 c deg|e2 c deg|
e2 A2 B2|a3 G2 F|e2 c d>cB|A6||

Fifteen comments

Mary,Young And Fair

This was a request.It’s an air in 6/8.Play it very slowly,and don’t forget the ritardano on the high c.

Re: Mary Young And Fair

If you aren’t, like me, good at getting up to high b in the 2nd part of this tune, it makes a bit of sense to repeat a (aaa) where it occurs and then when you get to the ritardando (as in previous comment) on the high c, play “a” instead. Not as beautiful quite but it does make it easier for the fingers as you don’t need to stretch 4th finger. Maybe this suggestion will be unpopular.

Mary Young And Fair, X:2

A very beautiful and old tune. An illiterate Highland poet put words to the air, in honour of his young wife Mary “she was like the wind blowing through the trees etc”. He wrote many good poems in Scottish Gaelic - similar to Irish Gaelic! One of my very favourite tunes.

Re: Mary Young And Fair

SLOW AIR, in 3/4 time. Shld be played slowly and expressively…

Re: Mary Young And Fair

Accidentally put this in 6/8 time - should be waltz time 3/4. Sorry. Corrected 4 pm.

Re: Mary Young And Fair

I think it works well in 6/8, susan k (as in Simon Fraser’s Collection), and if you transpose it to E minor it would omit that high note. I used to play the tune - in Eminor - in a folk group way, way back.

Duncan Ban MacIntyre (1724-1812) was indeed illiterate, but gained a good reputation for his poetry which was later translated by Hugh MacDiarmid among others.

Re: Mary Young And Fair

As it is, this version is notated neither in 3/4 or 6/8 time. Is it meant to be irregular, or was this an error? I know another version in 6/8, that makes more metrical sense and is easier to read. Just wondering. I agree with the other comments. And it’s a lovely tune!

Re: Mary Young And Fair

Accidentally put this in 6/8 time - should be waltz time 3/4. Sorry.
If you’d like to make this tune a bit easier (ie avoid top “b” on E string (violin) you can stick to top “a”1

Re: Mary Young And Fair

An absolutely lovely tune aka Mhairi bhan Og from the Scottish Highlands

Re: Mary Young And Fair

Sorry, it’s already been posted here before, apologies Jeremy (the eastern potentate, as my uncle Victor used to call the lord and overseer of all) - he called my Dad Patrick that when he was being beaten at bridge long long ago…..

Re: Mary Young And Fair

I’ve tidied up x:2 and hope the note values make more sense. (stayed up too late last night|)

Re: Mary Young And Fair

I must say, this is a very beautiful old tune.

Re: Mary Young And Fair

Have edited x:2 so it makes more sense though x:1 is better. For those fiddlers like me not good at playing high notes on the E string, I have simplified tune so “a” top note on E string. (Rheumatic fingers!)

Re: Mary Young And Fair

SLOW AIR vs QUICK SLIDE
…to be played at a fairly brisk pace as a Kerry style slide (12/8)

X: 1
T: Mary (Young at heart and fun)
R: slide
M: 12/8
L: 1/8
K: A dorian
A|: AAA c2d e2c AAA|cBA AcA G3 EDE|
AAA c2d ecd e2g|1 edc dcB A3 AGA :|2 edc dcB A3 AGA||
aba g2f edc ded|e2A ABA G3 E2G|
ABA c2d e2c ag=f|edc dcB A3 AGA|
aba g2f edc deg|eAA AcA G3 GEe|
cBc dcd ede c’ba|aec dcB A3 A2A||