Sí Bheag, Sí Mhór

Turlough O’Carolan · Level 3 (Late beginner) · traditional · Piano

The most famous piece by the blind Irish harper Turlough O’Carolan (1670–1738), inspired by a legend of two fairy hills, the small and the great. An easy arrangement in D major: the right hand plays the tune, the left hand plays a waltz pattern: the bass on the first beat, a two-note chord on the other two.

▶ Play this piece with the interactive score

How to practise it

• Listen first: the site plays it while the score scrolls.
• Wait mode: the score waits for you at every note, at your own pace.
• Tempo challenge: play in time, with a score and a map of the bars you got right.
• Work in four-bar phrases, hands separately then together. Keep the left hand softer than the tune: let the right hand sing. Think of the harp: let the long notes ring and keep the left hand very gentle.

More pieces by Turlough O’Carolan

• Planxty Irwin

Source : Arrangement Note after Note d’après l’air de T. O’Carolan · Public Domain