The Noisy Curlew (reel) on The Session

Also known as Conlon’s Dream, Crotach Glórach, Jack Maguire’s, Jack McGuire’s, Mick McNamara’s, Sherlock’s Fancy, Uncle Ginger.

Download ABC

Six settings

X: 1
T: The Noisy Curlew
R: reel

M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Dmaj
|:DFAF DGBG|DFAF EDCE|DF~F2 ABde|fdAG FGEF|
DFAF DGBG|DFAF EDCE|DF~F2 ABde|fdAG FDD2:|
|:fgaf g2ag|fgaf gfeg|fgaf geag|fdAG FDDg|
fgaf g2ag|fgaf gfeg|fdAF Gzag|1 (3faf ea fddg:|2 (3faf ea fdAF||

X: 2
T: The Noisy Curlew
R: reel

X: 3
T: The Noisy Curlew
R: reel

X: 4
T: The Noisy Curlew
R: reel

X: 5
T: The Noisy Curlew
R: reel

X: 6
T: The Noisy Curlew
R: reel

M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Dmaj
"D" DF (3FFF "G" DG (3GGG|"D" DF (3FFF "A" E2 FE|"D" DF (3FFF ABde|"D" fdAG FD (3DDD|
"D" DF (3FFF "G" DG (3GGG|"D" DF (3FFF "A" E2 FE|"D" DF (3FFF ABde|"D" fdAG FD (3DDD||
"D" fgaf "G" g2 ag|"D" fgaf "G" gfeg|"D" fgaf "G" g2 ag|"D" fdAG FD ~D2|
"D" fgaf "G" g2 ag|"D" fgaf "G" gfeg|"D" fdAF "G" G2 ag|"D" fdAG FD ~D2||

Twelve comments

Wants Variations

You’ll probably only learn to love this tune if you learn to put some variations in, which it wants desparately in both parts. I’m too lazy to include any in the posting, of course. It makes a good exercise for that, in fact.

Anyway this tune has become an indispensible part of my repertoire, and is useful in lots of contexts.

Jack Maguire’s

Recorded by Sligo/London flute-player Roger Sherlock as “Jack Maguire’s”, who I think was Sean Maguire’s father who played piccollo and whistle. “The Noisy Curlew” sounds like a modern name to me. Used to play a set of three reels - “Man Of Aran - Jack Maguire’s - Crib Of Perches” good key changes I thought.

Thanks

I have no attachment to the name I gave, tho nothing about it sounds particularly modern to me. Someone just told me that name recently.

Great wee tune!

I learned this from Gary Hastings as “Uncle Ginger”. Have also heard it called “Sean Maguire’s”. Great for the flute if your bottom keys are working.

Eileen Ivers

Look out for the recording of Eileen Ivers playing the Noisy Curlew live, followed by an even more staggering recording of Farewell to Ireland (or Erin)

Is n’t this “The Snake” recorded by the Glenside C B in 1967?

No

No. If you’re referring to the recording of “Jackie Coleman’s” followed by “The Snake”, the 2nd tune is more commonly known as “The Stony/Stoney Steps”. I listened to the track last night.

Matt Molloy’s version

is called Conlon’s Dream on the Pathway to the Well CD,

This is a crackn tune, I find myself going into after every Dmaj Reel, gotta stop that.

I learn’t it as Jack Maguire’s who was indeed Sean’s father.

On a recent “Geantrai” programme Ben Lennon called this ‘The Snake’

Variation loosely after Eileen Iver’s version

The Noisy Curlew reel