The Burnt Old Man (jig) on The Session

Also known as An Sean Duine, An Sean Duine Doighte, An Sean Duine Dóite, An Sean-duine, An TSeanduine Dóite, The Burnt-out Old Man, Georgie, The Dotard, Hob Or Nob, John Dunn’s March, The Old Man, Sean Duine Deoite, Sean Duine Doite, Seanduine.

Twenty comments

This is the very first tune I learnt to play on the whistle some years ago.
And it’s one the first I’m playing on the flute at the moment.
I was just so surprised not to find it here, since it’s a very well known tune and common in sessions.
This is Henrick Norbeck’s version, I was just to lazy today to transcribe my own version, but they are very similar

Somewhat gruesome name?

I hope it’s sunburn we’re talking about.

This was originally an old Scottish pipe march, I think.

By the way, i was listening to this on Celtic Mouth Music on my way to work today. The words (in Irish) are about a woman complaining about marrying an old man. She says he’s nothing but a burnt old man, and that she’s going to stick him in a corner with just enough sour milk and old bread, and if he sticks his head out, she’lll cut his nose off. 🙂 Lovely little melody, though.

"The Burnt Old Man" / "An Sean Duine Dóite" ~ siblings

Key signature: G Major
Submitted on April 3rd 2006 by Pierre Commes.
https://thesession.org/tunes/5647

There’s an unusual version of this on the Mulcahy Family’s "Notes From The Heart":

X: 1
T: An Seanduine Doite
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
R: jig
S: Mulcahy Family
K: Dmaj
DFA BAF|DFE F2E|DEF ABA|DFD E2F|
DFA B2A|AFA d2e|fed BdA|1 BAF E2F:|2 BAF E2B||
|:ABc ded|DFA B2A|AB/c/d efg|fed B2A|
AFA Bdd|DFA deg|fed BdA|1 BAF E2B:|2 BAF E2F||

Anyone know where this version originates?

Just heard this on Eavesdropper by Burke/Daly…

…and it is essestially the same tune we play on fifes and drums as "The Campbells are Coming" keyed in G. Was listening along thinking it sounded awfully familiar. Just one of many great tunes from the Irish and Scottish traditions that crossed over inthe the martial music of the 18th and 19th centuries. One of my favorites. I’ll have to learn it on fiddle in D!

Arranged as a slip jig

It feels quite natural to me to play this as a slip jig. Here’s the score, if anyone’s interested:
http://malcolm.schonfield.free.fr/zik_old.php?tune=catset3&lang=en

Oops - wrong link

Sorry, please use this link:
http://malcolm.schonfield.free.fr/zik.php?tune=catset3&lang=en

Aaaarrrgh! this tune!

hey dow,
that version is note for note how noel hill plays the tune, and at least according to noel the mulcahys view him as a major influence. in turn, noel’s version comes from the traditional song. muireann nic amhlaoibh sings the song with danú: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSjyv0wvna0#t=20

play video

Just got your comment after 2 years. Thanks Daiv.

The Burnt Old Man

Here’s a nice rendition of the tune which also very much coincides with Dr. Dow’s setting:
http://comhaltas.ie/music/detail/comhaltaslive_427_6_louise_mulcahy_aoife_granville/

Edit: Argh. Now wonder that it’s the same, as the one flute player actually *is* Louise Mulcahy. 😛

Added the way I learned it out in Ballyvourney. Learned it from a box player at a session, didn’t know the name of it but seems to be a variation of this tune.

Anyone else heard a version like this?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbpsH0o9FV8

play video

The Burnt Old Man, X:4 Tigh Tara Song Version

Song Version in G

The Burnt Old Man, X:5

Tigh Tara Jig version 🙂

Re: The Burnt Old Man

A version sung by Albert Fry. Dóite, or doighte in the old spelling, would in this context, rather than "burnt", mean "withered" or "dry".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33R0YXuX3sM