The Piobaireachd Society
Patron: His Majesty The King
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Title
Mary’s Praise
Alternative Title
Moladh Mairi McLaughlin's March
Artist
Roddy MacDonald, Unknown Artist, Andrew Wright, Malcolm R MacPherson, Donald MacPherson
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Information
A fuller name for this tune is ‘Mary’s Praise for her Gift’. One story claims that Mary gifted a sheepskin to a piper to use as a bag, whereupon the tune was composed; another states that the present was a sporran, given to Patrick Og MacCrimmon. Yet another says Lamont of Lamont gave his piper a farm in life-rent and the piper, by way of thanks, wrote the tune. The MacLachlan clan claim the tune as theirs, and in some manuscripts it is called the MacLaclan’s March.
The tune is not well written in PS and Kilberry. In particular, one would not expect variation 3 doubling to be played as written, with the initial B of the second phrase played short.
A three-pulse ground is usually heard. The second pulse should not be short, as this restricts the scope for showing these notes to best effect in the variations.
Consideration of the detailed comments in Kilberry’s Sidelights leads one to conclude that our playing of this tune has become rather stereotyped, and that much more variety of expression was the norm a couple of generations ago.
There are many ways of expressing the tune and a good number of recordings exist, demonstrating different styles. The tune cries out for personal interpretation by the piper.
Available in:
PS Book 5, Kilberry, Binneas
More
Donald MacDonald Volume 1 Mary's Praise
Hannay-MacAuslin Manuscript Moladh Mairi, McLachlan's March Mary's Praise
Angus MacKay Manuscript Mary's Praise
CC V1 66 McLachlan’s March
David Glen's Book Mary’s Praise
John MacDougall-Gillies Manuscript Mary's Praise
John Smith MS Mary's Praise for her Gift