Mary Brennan’s Favourite polka

My first not-so-mine tune that I’ve posted on here! Rockin’!

So yes, I learned this fun tune from Jimmy Devine, and well when I first started going to his lessons, everyone would play it while we waited for Jimmy, eventually I picked it up and never get bored with it! Jimmy actually never knew the name for it, just called it the “fun tune” and I discovered the name through Oisin MacDiarmada’s solo album.

Enjoy!
Armand

Oh by the way [I always do this..] I do believe that this tune is a fling, so don’t play this too fast.. Not a polka!!

Re-Enjoy!
Armand

Yes - a Highland Fling, keeping with your notes:

T: Mary Brennan’s Favourite
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
R: Highland Fling
K: Gmaj
|:G>E D2 E>FG>B|A>GE>F G>Bd>c|
B>D D2 E>FG>B|A>GE>F G2 G2:|
|:B2 B>A B>cd>B|A2 A>G A>Bd>c|
B2 B>A B>cd>B|A>GE>F G2 G2:|

Thanks Ceolchan! I also play it like the notation you posted there, hmmm, guess I should make the change!

Cheers and homework,
Armand

I like you kid, it’s a nice tune - keep up the good works… I think I might have another version around here somewhere. If I can find it I’ll transcribe it and post it here in the comments. These ‘Highlands’ lie better under the category for ‘Strathspey’ - or with the ‘Barndances’. There are a number scattered about, even under ‘Reels’ and ‘Hornpipes’. Do a general search with either ‘Fling’ or ‘Highland’ and a good number will show up in the results.

Sorry about the ‘kid’… Don’t come gunning for me, I’m already in the ‘Witness Protection Programme’…

Why can’t Jeremy just add these type of tunes? It’ll make things more organized… Bwah, back to my homework!

Cheers and STILL homework,
Armand

Breandán Breathnach’s ‘Folk Music and Dances of Ireland’ has this notated in 6/8 as follows. He credits John Kelly’s fiddle recording as the source for his dots. Being an ABC novice, it took me a bit longer than I’d like to admit notating this sob, what with all the double stops. Enjoy.

X: 1
T: Mary Brennan’s Favourite
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
R: Fling
K: Gmaj
A|:[D3B3] {Bc}B2 A|B2 c D2 [DB]|[D3A3] [D2A2] G|A2 d {e}d2 c|B2 B {d} B A|B2 c d2 B|A2 G E2 F|[1 [B3,G3] [G,2G2]:|[2 [G,3G3] [G,3G3]||
|:[G,2G2] E [G,3D3]|[G,2D2] [G,F] [G,2G2] [G,B]|A2 [G,G] [G,2E2] [G,F]|G2 B d2 c|[G2B2] D D2 D|E2 F [G,2G2] B|A2 G [G,2E2] [G,F]|[G,3G3] [G,3G3]:|

Breandan wouldn’t be the first person to mistake swung music for 6/8 or 12/8…

X: 3
T: Mary Brennan’s Favourite
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
R: fling
K: Gmaj
|: A |\
[D2B2] {Bc}B>A B>cd>[DB] | [D2A2] [DA]>G A>d{e}d>c |
B>B{d}B>A B>cd>B | A>GE>F [B,2G2] [G,G] :|[2 A>GE>F [G,2G2] [G,G]- ||
|: [G,G] |\
[G,G]>E [G,2D2] [G,D]>[G,F][G,G]>[G,B] | A>[G,G][G,E]>[G,F] G>Bd>c |
[GB]>DD>D E>F[G,G]>B |[1 A>G[G,E]>[G,F] [G,2G2] [G,G]- :|
|: A |\
B2 B>A B>cd>B | A2 A>G A>dd>c |
B>BB>A B>cd>B | A>GE>F G2 G- :|
|: G |\
G>E D2 D>FG>B | A>GE>F G>Bd>c |
B>DD>D E>FG>B | A>GE>F G2 G- :|

Though I also suspect the reversal of parts here may have been the result of another late night ~ turned back around and the lead-ins removed ~

X: 4
T: Mary Brennan’s Favourite
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
R: fling
K: Gmaj
|: G>E D2 D>FG>B | A>GE>F G>Bd>c |
B>DD>D E>FG>B | A>GE>F G2 G2 :|
|: B2 B>A B>cd>B | A2 A>G A>dd>c |
B>BB>A B>cd>B | A>GE>F G2 G2 :|

Thanks ceolachan! 🙂 Looks as though there are no major differences between the established dots here and Breandán’s transcription (once adjusted for time) in terms of melody notes-- just a couple doubled up notes instead of a lone quarter note. There’s one D where an E is in the pre-existing one, too. So, pretty damn similar overall.