Blind Mary

Turlough O'Carolan

BaroqueWell-knownromanceA minor3/4~3 min
H3
Henle (estimated)
RCM 3ABRSM 4

About this piece

"Blind Mary" is a famous air composed by Turlough Carolan, a renowned Irish harper and composer. This simple yet profoundly beautiful melody is known for its poignant lyricism and a sense of wistful reflection, often arranged for various instruments including the piano.

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Teacher notes

Develop a beautiful, singing legato line with subtle phrasing and expressive rubato.

Technical focus

cantabilerubatopedaling

Mood

melancholiclyricalcontemplative

Listen & watch

Your status

Not in your repertoire

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Free sheet music on IMSLP

Frequently asked questions

How hard is Blind Mary by Turlough O'Carolan?

Blind Mary is rated Henle level 3 of 9 — late beginner repertoire, roughly ABRSM grades 4–5. In the RCM system it corresponds to about level 3.

What level do I need to play Blind Mary?

You should be comfortable at Henle level 3 — meaning you can already play level 2–3 pieces cleanly. Learning it one level early is possible as a stretch piece, but more than that usually leads to months of frustration.

How long is Blind Mary?

A typical performance of Blind Mary lasts about 3 minutes.

Where can I get free sheet music for Blind Mary?

Blind Mary is available as free public-domain sheet music on IMSLP — the score is linked directly from this page.