Key signature: Gmajor
Submitted on January 8th 2010 by benpaley.
This tune has been added to 14 tunebooks.
Recordings of a tune by this name:
X: 1
T: Elusive Magpie, The
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
R: jig
K: Gmaj
=F |: DGG =FGA | c3 cBc | d2g fag | fdc AG=F |
DGG =FGA | c3 cBc | d2g fdc |[1 AG=F G2=F :|[2 AG=F G2D ||
|: GBd g3 | fag fdc | A=F2 c=F2 | d=F2 c=F2 |
DGG =FGA | c3 cBc | d2g fdc |[1 AG=F G2D :|[2 AG=F G2 |]
The Elusive Magpie
I had it from Brighton fiddle and banjo-player Roger Leach, who got it from Charlie Piggott.
I think it's a West Clare tune.
I transcribed it as Major with accidentals on the Fs in the low octave rather than Mixolydian with accidentals on the Fs in the high octave; but a person could do either either. It's a common 'mode', to have the minor seventh in the bottom of the tune and the major seventh in the top, but musical notation isn't well suited for recording it
# Posted on January 8th 2010 by benpaley
The Elusive Magpie (jig)
I was about to transcribe this jig from Claire Keville's solo album! It's actually another of Tipperary fiddler Sean Ryan's compositions. Claire Keville also cites Charlie Piggott as the source.
# Posted on January 10th 2010 by slainte
By the way, I believe this tune is in G dorian.
# Posted on January 10th 2010 by slainte
Dorian or not?
Thanks for that. Sean Ryan, of course!
I haven't heard Claire Keville's version (though I hope to - her CD has been highly recommended to me) so I can't say what she does with the few Bs, but if they're flats, and (as my friend Michael says) she plays F naturals throughout, then that certainly makes the tune Dorian.
Myself, I play the Bs as natural and some of the Fs as sharps (as I transcribed) which makes it either Mixolydian or Ionian depending on which Fs you believe! Isn't it fascinating - she and I both have the tune from Charlie, yet already those variations have snuck in.
# Posted on January 19th 2010 by benpaley
I've been having a crack at this, Ben, in readiness for your workshop in March. Playing it through and listening to the phrasing, there's almost the feel of a 9/8 slip jig here and there - or is just my poor ear?
# Posted on February 17th 2010 by Will Fly
Stop press
I got the order of events a bit wrong... turns out Charlie got the tune from Roger Leach and Mandy Murray, which is where I learnt it.
Will Fly: sorry I didn't read your comment until 7 months after you posted it! Doh...
# Posted on September 6th 2010 by benpaley