Feeding The Birds reel

Posted in response to a request from “cluaintarbh” (do I detect a Rafferty fan? 🙂

Feeding the Birds was made up by Mike Rafferty “with the help of Mary and the birds outside”. Recorded by the Rafferty’s on The Dangerous Reel and also by Kevin Crawford.

I think Kevin Crawford plays the beginning part single but I have it as a full 16 bars.

Thank you once again, another great Rafferty reel. Yes, as you guessed I am a fan. Up East Galway!

See https://thesession.org/tunes/3915 for another transcription.

Transcription from the playing of this tune by Kevin Crawford (Track 10/3rd tune on the “Maiden Voyage”):

GF|:DGGA B2 ag|egdc BGG F|DGGA B2 AG|BdcA G2 GF:|
|fgag fdd e|effd cA ag|fgag fddA|defa ~g3 a|bgag {a}gfd e|fded cAGF|DGGA B2 AG|BdcA G2 GF||

this reel has the same contour as these also:
Sweeney’s reel, as noted above (No 3915),
which is more or less the same as The Pretty Girls of Mayo https://thesession.org/tunes/1954
and the song Muirsheen Durkin (a polka) https://thesession.org/tunes/8516

It’s also akin to this tune, whose name I forgot (Help needed here. Altan recorded it… a Highland?):
DGGA B2ge|dBAc BEED|DGGA B2dA|1 BAAc BGG2…

Biholde ye the foulis of the eire, for thei sowen not, nethir repen, nethir gaderen in to bernes; and youre fadir of heuene fedith hem.