The Magpie’s Nest reel

There are 11 recordings of this tune.
This tune has been recorded together with

The Magpie’s Nest appears in 3 other tune collections.

The Magpie’s Nest has been added to 4 tune sets.

The Magpie’s Nest has been added to 44 tunebooks.

Download ABC

Five settings

1
X: 1
T: The Magpie's Nest
R: reel
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Gmaj
D|:B,DG,D EDB,D|GEDB, CB,A,G,|B,DG,E DB,A,B,|1 DEGA BG GD:|2 DEGA BG GA||
BddB ~A2 GA|Bz AF GFED|Bd ~d2 edBG|DEGA BGGA|
BddB ~A2 GA|Bz AF GFED|B,A,B,D CB,CE|DEGA BG G2||
2
X: 2
T: The Magpie's Nest
R: reel
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Dmaj
dA~A2 BAFA|dAFA GFED|FA~A2 ABAF|ABde feec|
dA~A2 BAFA|dAFA GFED|~F3A ABAF|ABde fedf||
~a3f gfeg|fedf ecAe|abaf gfed|ABde feef|
~a3f gfeg|fedf ecAF|G2BG F2AF|ABde fedc||
3
X: 3
T: The Magpie's Nest
R: reel
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Dmaj
B2|:AddA BAFA|BdAF GFED|FAAB AFEF|ABde fddB|
~A2 dA BAFA|BdAF GFED|FAAB AFEF|ABde fdd2:|
e2|:faaf ~e2 de|fdec dcBA|fa~a2 bafd|ABde fdde|
faaf ~e2de|fdec dcBA|~F2 AF ~G2BG|ABde fd d2:|
4
X: 4
T: The Magpie's Nest
R: reel
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Dmaj
B|A2BA BAFA|dBAF GFED|FAAF AFDE|FAde fddB|
A2BA BAFA|dBAF GFED|FAAF AFDE|FAde fdd:|
e|f2af efde|fddc dcBA|fa~a2 bafd|ABde fdde|
f2af efde|fddc dcBA|F2AF G2BG|ABde fdd:|
5
X: 5
T: The Magpie's Nest
R: reel
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Dmaj
Ad{e}dA TBAFA|dAFA TGFED|FAAB AFEF|1 ABde Tfee2:|2 ABde fdd2||
a2{b}afg2{a}ge|f2fd ecA2|a2{b}ag fedB|ABde Tfee2|
a2fag2eg|f2df ecAF|G2(BGF2)(AF)|ABde fdd2||
AddA BAFA|dAFA GFED|FAAB AFEF|ABde fee2|
AddA BAFA|dAFA GFED|FAAB AFEF|ABde fdd2:|
faaf efde|fdec dcBA|faaa bafa|ABde fdd2|
faaf efde|fdec dcBA|FGAF GABG|ABde fdd2:|
AddA BAFA|~B2AF GFED|(3EFG Ad AFEF|ABde feeB|
A2dA BAFA|~B2AF GFED|(3EFG Ad AFEF|1 ABde fddB:|2 ABde fddf||
|:~a3f gfea|fedf eBBA|fa~a2 fedB|ABde fee2|
faaf gfeg|fedf edBA|EFAF GABG|1 ABde fddf:|2 ABde fded||

Ten comments

Dezi Donnelly

This is the second tune in the set on track 5 of Dezi Donnelly’s album, “Familiar Footsteps”. I just posted the other yesterday. They are both listed as Gan Ainm so if we can come up with a name we can pass this on to Dezi through someone on the list who plays with Dezi’s cousin, Vinny.

The Magpie’s Nest

Transcribed from a recording of last night’s session. I’m told the source was O‘Neill’s, but the musos here have put their own spin on it. Apparently the tune was a favourite of Paddy O’Brien’s.

The Magpie’s Nest

You got it from me didn’t you. I sooo can’t believe you posted it🙂

Yeah I got it from you. That’s why there are so many mistakes 😛

I found Paddy O’Brien’s setting on the net. It’s quite different:

X:43
T:Magpie’s Nest
S:Trad, arr. Paddy O’Brien
Z:Set: Magpie’s Nest/Chattering Magpie/Kerry
R:reel
E:9
I:speed 350
M:C|
K:D
B2|:AddA BAFA|BdAF GFED|FAAB AFEF|ABde fddB|\
~A2 dA BAFA|BdAF GFED|FAAB AFEF|ABde fdd2:|\
e2|:faaf ~e2 de|fdec dcBA|fa~a2 bafd|ABde fdde|\
faaf ~e2de|fdec dcBA|~F2 AF ~G2BG|ABde fd d2:|**

I found another version with a different title which has presumably been added later. I don’t know where the title is from though.

X: 2639
T: Lassie at the Plow* (reel) % cre5<bb
B: CRE5.201 (unnamed)
M: 4/4
Q: 360
R: reel
K: D
B | A2BA BAFA | dBAF GFED | FAAF AFDE | FAde fddB |
A2BA BAFA | dBAF GFED | FAAF AFDE | FAde fdd :|
e | f2af efde | fddc dcBA | fa~a2 bafd | ABde fdde |
f2af efde | fddc dcBA | F2AF G2BG | ABde fdd :|

I think this might be called Lassie at the Plough. I’ve sent you an e-mail with all the details - see if you agree.

O’Neill’s version

X: 1
T:The Magpie’s Nest
R:Reel
N:Collected by Carey
B:O’Neill’s 1365
Z:Transcribed by Trish O’Neil
M:C|
L:1/8
K:D
Ad{e}dA TBAFA|dAFA TGFED|FAAB AFEF|1ABde Tfee2:|2ABde fdd2||
a2{b}afg2{a}ge|f2fd ecA2|a2{b}ag fedB|ABde Tfee2|
a2fag2eg|f2df ecAF|G2(BGF2)(AF)|ABde fdd2|]

…and 2 more from albums

X: 1
T: Magpie’s Nest (reel)
B: O’Neill’s “Music of Ireland” #1365 (first part only)
D: Conor McCarthy, Annemarie McCormack & Cyril O’Donoghue - Ace and Deuce (1998)
R: reel
Q: 360
M: C|
L: 1/8
K: D
AddA BAFA|dAFA GFED|FAAB AFEF| ABde fee2 |
AddA BAFA|dAFA GFED|FAAB AFEF| ABde fdd2 :|
faaf efde | fdec dcBA | faaa bafa | ABde fdd2 |
faaf efde | fdec dcBA | FGAF GABG | ABde fdd2 :|

X: 1
T: The Magpie’s Nest
D: Connie O’Connell - Ceol Cill na Martra
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
R: reel
K: Dmaj
AddA BAFA|~B2AF GFED|(3EFG Ad AFEF|ABde feeB|
A2dA BAFA|~B2AF GFED|(3EFG Ad AFEF|1 ABde fddB:|2 ABde fddf||
|:~a3f gfea|fedf eBBA|fa~a2 fedB|ABde fee2|
faaf gfeg|fedf edBA|EFAF GABG|1 ABde fddf:|2 ABde fded||

On second thoughts, having looked at lots of different settings of The Magpie’s Nest https://thesession.org/tunes/5831, I think that’s what this is, just in a different key. Check out the very similar setting (albeit in D) on Conor McCarthy, Annemarie McCormack & Cyril O’Donoghue - Ace and Deuce (1998).