Toss The Feathers reel

Also known as Croith Na Cleití, Toss The Feathers #2.

There are 27 recordings of this tune.

This tune has been recorded together with

Toss The Feathers appears in 2 other tune collections.

Toss The Feathers has been added to 162 tune sets.

Toss The Feathers has been added to 1,220 tunebooks.

Download ABC

Twenty settings

1
X: 1
T: Toss The Feathers
R: reel
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Dmix
|:D2 FD ADFD|ABcA G~E3|D2 (3FED ADFA|d2 ed cAGE|
(3DDD AD (3DDD AD|ABcA G~E3|cABG A2 AB|1 cded cAGE:|2 cded cAGc||
|:Ad (3ddd Ad (3ddd|Ad (3ddd ed^cd|eaag a2 ag|eaag ed^cd|
efge afge|dfed cAGB|cABG A2 AB|1 cded cAGc:|2 cded cAGE||
# Added .
2
X: 2
T: Toss The Feathers
R: reel
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Dmix
D2AD EDAD|D2AG EAGE|D2AD EDEG|1 AddB cAGE:|2 AcGE EDD2||
Add^c d2cd|ed^cd ed~d2|eaag ed^cd|ed^cd ed~d2|
eaag efge|dged cAGE|D2AD EGAB|cded cAGE||
3
X: 3
T: Toss The Feathers
R: reel
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Dmix
D2AD EDAD|D2AG EAGE|D2AD EGAB|cded cAGE|
D2AD EDAD|D2AG EAGE|D2AD EGAB|cAGE EDD2||
Add^c d2cd|ed^cd edd2|eaag ed^cd|ed^cd edd2|
eaag efge|dfed cAGE|D2AD EGAB|cded cAGE||
4
X: 4
T: Toss The Feathers
R: reel
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Dmix
|D2 AD EDAD|D2 AG EAGE|D2 AD EDEG|AddB cAGE|
D2 AD EDAD|D2 AG EAGE|D2 AD EDEG|cAGE ED D2|
Add^c d2 cd|ed^cd ed d2|eaag ed^cd|ed^cd ed d2|
eaag efge|dged cAGE|D2 AD EDEG|AddB cAGE|
5
X: 5
T: Toss The Feathers
R: reel
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Dmix
|:D2 ED ADED|ABcA GEDE|D2 F/E/D ADED|AddB cAGE
D2 DA D2 ED|ABcA GE E2|cABG A2 AB|1 cded cAGE:|
Ad d2 ad d2|Ad d2 ed^cd|eaag a2 ge|a2 ag aged
efge a2 fg|efed dcAB|cABG A2 AB|1 cded cAGB:|
6
X: 6
T: Toss The Feathers
R: reel
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Dmix
|:D2 ED ADED|ABcA GEDE|D2 ED ADED|AddB cAGE|
D2 DA D2 ED|ABcA GE E2|cABG A2 AB|1 cded cAGE:|2 cded cAGB||
|:Ad d2 ad d2|Ad d2 ed^cd|eaag a2 ge|a2 ag aged|
efge a2 fg|efed dcAB|cABG A2 AB|1 cded cAGB:|2 cded cAGE||
7
X: 7
T: Toss The Feathers
R: reel
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Dmix
D2 (3FED AD (3FED|ABcA GE~E2|D2 (3FED ADFA|dfed cAGE|
D2 (3FED AD (3FED|ABcA GE~E2|cABG A2B^c|dfed cAGE:|
|:Ad~d2 Ad~d2|Ad^cd edcd|eaag ~a3g|eaag ed^cd|
efge afge|dfed cAAB|cABG A2B^c|dfed cAGE:|
8
X: 8
T: Toss The Feathers
R: reel
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Dmix
|:"D"D2 ED ADED|"D"AB=cA "C"GEcE|"D"D2 F/E/D ADFA|"G"AddB "C"=cAGE|
"D"D2 FD AD FD|"D"AB=cA "C"GE E2|"C"=cABG "Am"A2 AB|1 "D"d2ed "C"=cAGE:|2 "D"d2ed "C"=cAGB||
|:"D"Ad dc d2 cd|"D"edcd ed^cd|"A"eaag a3 g|"A"eaag edcd|
"A"efge afge|"D"dfed =cAAB|"C"=cABG "Am"A2 AB|1 "D"cded "C"cAGB:|2 "D"cded "C"cAGE||
# Added by Bryce .
9
X: 9
T: Toss The Feathers
R: reel
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Dmix
|:D2 AD D2 AD|D2 AG EGGE|D2 AD D/E/D EG|1 AddB cAGE:|2 Addd cAGc||
Add^c d4|edcd edd/d/d|eaag edcd|edcd edd/d/d|
eaag ef g/f/e|d2 ed cAGE|D2 F/E/D EGAB|cded cAGE||
10
X: 10
T: Toss The Feathers
R: reel
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Dmix
D2 D2 AD D2|ABcA GE E2|D2 D2 AD D2|defd cAGE|
D2 D2 AD D2|ABcA GE E2|cABG A2 (3ABc|1 d2 ed cAGE:|2 d2 ed cAGc||
|:Ad d2 Ad d2|Ad d2 ed^cd|eaag a3g|eaag ed (3B^cd|
efge afge|f3e dcAB|cABG A2 (3AB^c|1 d2 ed cAGc:|2 d2 ed cAGE||
# Added by JACKB .
11
X: 11
T: Toss The Feathers
R: reel
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Dmix
|:D2 ED ADED|ABcA GEGE|D2 (3FED ADED|AddB cAGE
D2 DA D2 ED|ABcA GE E2|cABG A2 (3ABc|d2 ed cAGE:|
Ad d2 Ad d2|Ad d2 ed^cd|eaag a2 ge|a2 ag aged
ef (3gfe af (3gfe|f3 d dcAB|cABG A2 (3ABc|d2 ed cAGE:|
12
X: 12
T: Toss The Feathers
R: reel
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Dmix
|:D2 D2 AD D2|ABcA GE E2|D2 D2 AD D2|defd cAGE|
D2 D2 AD D2|ABcA GE E2|cABG A2 (3AB^c|d2 ed ^cAGE:|
|:Ad d2 Ad d2|Ad d2 ed (3B^cd|eaag a3g|eaag ed (3B^cd|
ef (3gfe af (3gfe|f3e d^cAB|=cABG A2 (3AB^c|d2 ed ^cAGE:|
# Added by JACKB .
13
X: 13
T: Toss The Feathers
R: reel
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Dmix
|:D2 ED ADED|ABcA GEcE|D2 (3FED ADFA|Afed cAGE
D2 ED ADED|ABcA GE ~E2|cABG A2 AB|1 cfed cAGE:|2 cfed cAGB||
|:Ad ~d2 Ad ~d2|Ad^cd edcd|eaag ~a2 ag|eaag ed^cd|
efge afge|~f2ed dcAB|cABG A2 Bc|1 dfed cAGB:|2 dfed cAGE||
14
X: 14
T: Toss The Feathers
R: reel
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Dmix
|:D2ED ADED|ABcA GEGE|D2ED ADED|AddB cAGE|
(3DDD ED ADED|ABcA GEE2|cABG A2(3ABc|1 d2ed cAGE:|2 d2ed cAGB||
|:Add2 Add2|Adde dcde|eaag a3g|eaag aged|
efg/f/e afg/f/e|f2ed dcAB|cABG A2(3ABc|1 d2ed cAGB:|2 d2ed cAGE||
15
X: 15
T: Toss The Feathers
R: reel
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Dmix
D||D2AD EDAG|(3D=FD AG EAGE|D2AD EDEG|Adde cAGE|
{D=F} D2AD EDAG|(3D=FD AG EAGE|(3D=FD ED EGAB|cdAG EDD2||
Add^c (3d=fd cd|ed (3d=fd ed^cd|eaag ed^cd|ed^cd ed (3d=fd|
eaag efge|dged cAGE|(3D=FD ^CD EGAB|cded _BAGE||
16
X: 16
T: Toss The Feathers
R: reel
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Dmix
|:"D"D2 ED ADED|ABcA "C"GEGE|"D"D2 (3FED ADED|AddB "C"cAGE|
"D"D2 DA D2 ED|ABcA "C"GE E2|cABG A2 (3ABc|"G" d2 ed "Am7"cAGE:|
|:"D"Ad d2 Ad d2|Ad d2 ed^cd|"Am" eaag a2 ge|a2 ag aged|
"C"ef (3gfe af (3gfe|"G" f3 d dcAB|"C" cABG A2 (3ABc|"G"d2 ed "Am7"cAGE:|
17
X: 17
T: Toss The Feathers
R: reel
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Dmix
|:"D"D2 FD ADFD|ABcA "C"GECE|"D"D2 FD ADFA|d2 ed "C"cAGE|
"D"D2 FD ADFD|ABcA "C"GEDE|"Am"cABG A2 AB|1 "C"cded "Am"cAGE:|2 "C"cded cA"G"GB||
|:"D"Add^c d2 ^cd|ed^cd ed^cd|"A"eaag a3g|eaag ed^cd|
"Em"efge "G"afge|"D"dfed "C"cAAB|"Am"c/B/A BG A3B|1 "C"cded cA"G"GB:|2 "C"cded "G"cAGE||
18
X: 18
T: Toss The Feathers
R: reel
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Dmix
D2 AD EDAD|D2 AG EAGE|D2 AD EDEG|AddB cAGE|
D2 AD EDAD|D2 AG EAGE|D2 AD EDEG|cAGE ED D2||
Add^c d2 cd|ed^cd ed d2|eaag ed^cd|ed^cd ed d2|
eaag efge|dged cAGE|D2 AD EDEG|cAGE ED D2||
19
X: 19
T: Toss The Feathers
R: reel
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Gmaj
D2 ED ADED|ABcA GECE|D2 ED ADED|AddB cAGE|
D3 D ADED|ABcA GE E2|cABG A2 (3ABc|1 d2 ed cAGE:|2 d2 ed cAGB||
Ad (3ddd Ad (3ddd|Ad (3ddd edcd|eaag a3 g|eaag aged|
ef (3gfe afge|f2 ed dcAB|cABG A2 (3ABc|d2 ed cAGB:|
20
X: 20
T: Toss The Feathers
R: reel
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Dmix
|:D2 (3FED AD FD|ABcA GE E2|D2 (3FED AD FD|dfed cAGE|
D2 (3FED AD FD|ABcA GE E2|cABG A2 AB|cd ed cAGE:|
|:Ad d2 Ad d2|Ad d2 ed^cd|eaag a3g|eaag ed^cd|
efge afge|dfed ^cAAB|=cABG A2AB|cded cAGE:|

Thirty-four comments

Toss the Feathers (II)

One of my all-time favorite tunes. Kevin Burke rips through a tremendous version on his If the Cap Fits cd. This tune is quite different from the more common Toss the Feathers reel, and we play them in a set, giving rise to lots of odd looks when someone asks, “Great tunes! What are they called?” You can emphasize the long d in measure 4 of Part A and the long a in measure 3 of Part B by sliding up to those notes. I also tend to add triplets to the stair-step phrases (|cABG A2| becomes |(3cBA BG A2|, and in Part B |afge…| becomes |(3aaf ge…|). Finally, go with the bluesy feel of that c natural in a D tune by sharping the G in the end phrase that comes around in each half: |cAB^G A2…|

Posted .

Toss the Feathers

Cool tune. found sound recording really useful as it was very slow and allowed us to learn the tune very easily. thanks!

This version more common

Actually, this setting of the tune is the more well known. Kevin Burke popularized the emin version, but most veterans know this setting as Toss the Feathers--especially in Clare

Yep, I’ve noticed that, based on recordings of Clare musicians and sessions. On this side of the pond, both tunes are fairly widespread, but seems to me more people know the Em one.

Posted .

True Story

Breandan’s true story in the sessions section reminded me of one I’d forgotten about:

Matt and Shannon Heaton had started up a tune learning session at the Small Circle coffeehouse in Longmont. One of the first tunes they taught us was the Clare version of Toss the Feathers. So we’re all stomping away, roaring it out.

Now, the session at the Small Circle takes place on a small “stage” built of plywood covered by vinyl flooring. It’s very bouncy and loud -- tapping your foot sounds like someone hitting a bodhran fairly hard.

Somehow, none of us noticed that Matt’s enormous latte (his very favorite kind, but I can’t remember what kind that is, exactly) was headed off the table, and after about three times through the tune, pop! Off it went, right into Matt’s open fiddle case. (He was playing the fiddle at the time, thank god.) Great consternation and mopping up, with Matt moaning that he’d only gotten one sip out of it -- I think he was more crushed about losing the latte than he was over the mess in his case. 🙂

Zina

I think this is a newer version

It’s nice on Accordion or Concertina (Galway versions?)
but I suspect the earlier version - see John
Roche - is the correct one, anyway that is the
way Swarbrick used do it;probably during the
early days of O’Riada when there was no real need
to be ‘session’ wary. I think on fiddle, Trevor,
your version sounds overdone wheras the old one
seems to fit like a glove - made for the fiddle I
think.

Toss The Feathers (as a single reel)

I heard this played in my local session as “Toss The Feathers #3”. I see that it’s posted on JC’s as the “Clare version” by none other than Zina. It’s the same setting as the one I heard at our session:

K:Dmix
D2AD EDAD|D2AG EAGE|D2AD EDEG| AddB cAGE:|2 AcGE EDD2||
Add^c d2cd|ed^cd ed~d2|eaag ed^cd|ed^cd ed~d2|
eaag efge|dged cAGE|D2AD EGAB|cded cAGE||

Yes, this is what I’ve been looking for! Thanks Anderson-san. I really don’t know exactly why, but this is the standard version of the tune played in Leeds, West Yorkshire. It’s a bit weird that unusual Clare versions of common tunes are popularised in the city, considering none of Irish people residing there have Clare origin. I guess some of the musicians picked up tunes while visiting the county for ceili band competitions.

Set?

could someone suggest some good tunes to play along with ‘toss the feathers’?

thanks🙂

Toss the Feathers #3

Here’s my version of the tune:

K: Dmix
D2AD EDAD|D2AG EAGE|D2AD EGAB|cded cAGE|
D2AD EDAD|D2AG EAGE|D2AD EGAB|cAGE EDD2||
Add^c d2cd|ed^cd edd2|eaag ed^cd|ed^cd edd2|
eaag efge|dfed cAGE|D2AD EGAB|cded cAGE||

Well, it’s actually a mixture of Dow’s setting posted above and James Kelly’s. I personally like playing it a little bit slowly.

My version of TTF #3

K:Dmix

|D2 AD EDAD|D2 AG EAGE|D2 AD EDEG|AddB cAGE|
|D2 AD EDAD|D2 AG EAGE|D2 AD EDEG|cAGE ED D2|

|Add^c d2 cd|ed^cd ed d2|eaag ed^cd|ed^cd ed d2|
|eaag efge|dged cAGE|D2 AD EDEG|AddB cAGE|

John Dwyer learnt this from Sonny brogan.

By the corrs

the corrs perform this tune full of energy

“Toss the Feathers” a la Corrs? ~ this is offered as a curiosity

# Posted on December 12th 2006 by redindygo

“Here’s a flute tab I found on the Corrs discussion group.”

Toss the Feathers

(1) D E D A D E D A B C A G E D E
D E D A D E D A D D B C A G E
D D A D E D A B C A G E E
1. C A B G A A B C D E D C A G E :||
2. C A B G A A B C D E D C A G B

(2) A D D A D D A D D E D C D
E A A G A G E A A G A G E D
E F# G E A F# G E F# E D D C A B
1. C A B G A A B C D E D C A G B :||
2. C A B G A A B C D E D C A G E D

# Posted on December 12th 2006 by redindygo

& here is my attempt to make sense of the weird notation, TAB FOR FLUTES ~ who came up with that, and how useless sense there’s nothing to distinguish not length or pitch? I would love to know, if there’s anyone who can answer that??? Anyway, here’s the bits worked back in as best as I was able to figure it, at least cleaned up and making abit more sense:

K: D Mixolydian
|: D2 ED ADED | ABcA GEDE | D2 ED ADED | AddB cAGE
D2 DA D2 ED | ABcA GE E2 | cABG A2 AB |1 cded cAGE :|
2 cded cAGB ||
Ad d2 ad d2 | Ad d2 ed^cd | eaag a2 ge | a2 ag aged
efge a2 fg | efed dcAB | cABG A2 AB |1 cded cAGB :|
2 cded cAGE ||

~ yes, the nap… Did I suggest ‘clarity’? Here’s a correction:

~ “ ~ since there’s nothing to distinguish note length of pitch? ~ ”

Just a few slips there, not too bad… 😏

AAA! ~ “note length or pitch?” Good night all…

The Flute TAB has scrambled my brain cells…

Tin Whistle TAB for Toss The Feathers

I have searched the web but can not find TAB for this tune. I would greatly appreciate it if someone could show me where to find it.

Re: Tin Whistle TAB for Toss The Feathers

Put both hands behind you, take a firm grip, then…

I very much hope you’re not serious.

Re: Tin Whistle TAB for Toss The Feathers

Yawn - windups are boring

Re: Tin Whistle TAB for Toss The Feathers

Hello FishDoc.

If you don’t know how to use this website then hopefully this will guide you.

Click on tunes in the right hand side of the page.

Tabs will appear and you click on “search”.

In the box you type the name and, if you know what rhythm, that too.

there is a choice of abc notation or sheet music available. If that cannot help you then perhaps a friend can help you.

Better still you might learn by ear by asking a session player to play it for you slowly; that is a nice way to learn.

I hope this is some help to you.

Brian x

A great tune for using cranns.

Another version

X: 7
T:Toss the Feathers
R:reel
H:Other versions: #263 (Ddor), #163 (Edor), #652 (Ddor)
Z:id:hn-reel-110
M:C|
K:Dmix
D2 (3FED AD (3FED|ABcA GE~E2|D2 (3FED ADFA|dfed cAGE|
D2 (3FED AD (3FED|ABcA GE~E2|cABG A2B^c|dfed cAGE:|
|:Ad~d2 Ad~d2|Ad^cd edcd|eaag ~a3g|eaag ed^cd|
efge afge|dfed cAAB|cABG A2B^c|dfed cAGE:|

Toss the Feathers~The Corrs

I downloaded sheet music from a Corr’s site. The time sig. was 6/8. I counted the notes. So that would make their’s a jig, right? It does sound different.

“Corrs” download wrong.

Probably not - more likely to make “theirs” a mistake. There are 2 commonly-known reels called “Toss The Feathers”, but no jigs that I’ve ever come across.

Posted by .

Jerry O’Sullivan’s version

X: 3
T: Toss The Feathers
R: reel

M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Dmix
D2AD EDAD|D2AG EGGE|D2AD EDAD|A2dB cAGE:||
Add^c d2cd|eddd eddd|eaag ed^cd|ed^cd ed^cd|
eaag egge|d2ed cAGE|D2AD E\F\GAB|c2dB cAGE||

Re: Toss The Feathers

Where can I find the sheet music for the Corrs version for tin whistle ?

Ag Scaipeadh Na Gcleití, X:11

This version from Sonny Brogan, playing with Seán Ó Riada’s Ceoltóirí Chualann.

I believe Brogan composed this version of the tune. James Keane, who knew Brogan well, plays the tune doubled and with a slightly different B part. I wonder did Brogan play it single to fit the purposes of Ó Riada’s arrangement? The use of f naturals in cuts and triplets certainly gives the tune an older feel, and it makes one wonder if Brogan utilized them in his regular playing and that Keane has since forgotten them or does not use them, or if Brogan’s version for Ceoltóirí Chualann is not the way he played the tune regularly.

Regardless, this is a lovely variation on a lovely tune.

Re: Toss The Feathers

I learned this tune by ear from Winifred Horan - it’s a modal tune (doesn’t stay in the key of G) and th 5th bar of the B part needs to have an Fnatural in it. The F# is in every one of these versions and it just changes the whole tune. Try it with the Fnatural - it’s awesome.

Here’s the Solas version so you can hear what I’m talking about:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqvNJFJ8Qtw