Si Bheag Si Mhor

This Irish slow air in D major was composed by blind harpist Turlough O’Carolan (1670-1738) and is considered his first composition. The piece adapts the melody of an older tune called “The Bonnie Cuckoo,” with O’Carolan adding his own text about a legendary battle between fairy queens of two hills in County Leitrim. The tune takes its name from two small hills near Lough Scur, with “sí” meaning fairy mound in Irish. Planxty recorded it on their 1973 debut album, The Boys of the Lough also released it in 1973, and The Chieftains included it on their 1975 album The Chieftains 5.

O’Carolan lost his sight to smallpox at age 18 but was apprenticed to learn the harp through the support of Mrs. MacDermott-Roe. He became one of Ireland’s most celebrated composers, traveling throughout the country and creating works that blended Irish traditional music with continental European influences.

Also known as Sheebeg Sheemore, Shee Beg & Shee Mor.