Details ABC Sheetmusic Comments

The Orphan

jig

Key signature: Eminor

Submitted on July 27th 2001 by Will CPT.

This tune has been added to 115 tunebooks.

Also known as Miss Casey's, Stolen Child.

Recordings of a tune by this name:

60th Anniversary Celebration by The Tulla Ceili Band
Aleanna by Aleanna
As Long As You're Enjoying Yourself by John Brennan And John McGillian
Bealoideas by Oisin
Celtic Reign by Celtic Reign
From The Floor Up by Wild Asparagus
Gander In The Pratie Hole by Carlos Plumley And Mike Herr
Handed Down by Cathal Hayden
In Good Company - The Very Best Of by Kevin Burke
Irish Women Musicians Of America by Cherish The Ladies
L�n D�il by Mary Jane Lamond
Lively Steps by Jerry Holland
Makin' The Rounds by Billy McComiskey
Na Draiodoiri by Na Draiodoiri
Off She Goes by Gerry Hegarty And Claire Watts
Oi�che Go Maidean by Brendan Begley
One by Murphy Roche Irish Music Club
Samhradh by Abisko
So Far by Eileen Ivers
Sweet Liberty by Garva
The Blue CD by Irish Session Tunes
The Road To Riley by Riley School Of Irish Music
The Story So Far by John Creavan
Traditional Music Of Ireland by Kathleen Collins
Up Close by Kevin Burke
Wild And Beautiful by Silly Wizard

Details ABC Sheetmusic Comments

Details ABC Sheetmusic Comments

The Orphan

Here's yet another jig that plays best as a slow air. This version is based on the playing of Eileen Ivers, with thanks to a friend of mine and fellow fiddler, Mary Angela Collins, for sharing it with me several years ago.

Though this is a fairly simple tune, it lends itself to subtle variations, a few of which I've noted in the transcription (and that's why each half is written out twice, rather than using the repeat signs). It also lends itself to gentle slides into those E notes, and sometimes the Bs too. Definitely a somber tune, as befits the title.
Will

# Posted on July 27th 2001 by Will CPT

Variation

Try replacing bars 9 & 10 (excluding pick up note bar) with GFE GFE| EFG FGA| This is a variation that Eileen used on her cut of "The Orphan" from The first Cherish The Ladies Album.
~Brad

# Posted on July 28th 2001 by Mad Baloney

Variations

Again, I'm not familiar with the Cherish recording, but the variation I've heard Ivers play goes: |EFG EFG|GFG AGA|. Apparently no end to the variety this tune will accommodate....
Will

# Posted on July 28th 2001 by Will CPT

The Orphan

Thanks for posting "The Orphan". Do you have it as a .gif file? Thanks again.

# Posted on July 30th 2001 by Jiml

GIF File

I don't have it as a gif file, but Jeremy will post the sheet music soon enough I'm sure. The poor guy must be overwhelmed what with all the tunes and comments being thrown at the site. Jeremy--what do you do for a living? How can you possibly afford the time it must take to manage this virtual session? You have my deepest gratitude....
Will

# Posted on July 30th 2001 by Will CPT

GIF File

I'm sorry. I could have sworn I posted up the sheetmusic for this already - thanks for reminding me.

As for finding the time to post the sheetmusic, it's my pleasure. I get as excited about all these tunes as the next person.

# Posted on July 30th 2001 by Jeremy

Playing the orphan on flute

do you need to transpose to play this tune on flute cos we obviously cant quite get the c's and the rest under them. it doesnt sound quite right if I just bring it up an octave. Any ideas?

# Posted on September 11th 2001 by sizzler

No, it suxs to play flute, sometimes. But just think of all the $ you save in strings and rosin! :-)

# Posted on September 11th 2001 by glauber

The Orphan

Silly Wizard play and excellent version of this one on "Wild and Beautiful."

# Posted on March 19th 2004 by reelymcneely

"No, it suxs to play flute, sometimes. But just think of all the $ you save in strings and rosin!"
Posted on Tuesday, September 11th 2001 by glauber

yeah and think of all the notes you save by not being able to play them

# Posted on March 8th 2005 by anarchofiddler

"No, it suxs to play flute, sometimes."

I blow when I play flute... I never tried sucking. Do you use the same embouchure?

# Posted on March 8th 2005 by Phantom Button

The Orphan on flute

Since I posted this tune, I've been learning flute, and this is one of my favorite flute jigs. Here's how I get around the notes below D.

X: 1
T: Orphan, The
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
R: jig
K: Emin
~E3 EDE|~G3 AGA|~B3 ABA|GE/F/G EDB|
A2 E EDE|~G3 AGA|~B3 ABA|GED E3||
~e3 dBA|GAB dBd|edB AGA|~B3 AGF|
G2 F EDE|~G3 AGA|~B3 ABA|GED E3||

I also simplify the A part by getting rid of the "B" to "A" bit going from the 4th to 5th bar. Instead, I just turn the phrase on the G: |GE/F/G EDG|EzE EDE| with the "z" being a good place for a breath (or you can roll.crann the E there).

The Orphan is singlehandedly responsible for getting my rolls working--you can roll nearly every note. Now, I wouldn't typically play it this way, but just to show the possibilities (I'll use ~X3 to show rolls; it's up to you to decide where to stick long rolls (~X3) or short rolls (X~X2)):

~E3 EDE|~G3 ~A3|~B3 ~A3|~G3 EDG|
~E3 EDE|~G3 ~A3|~B3 ~A3|GED E3||

Yikes! Point is, knowing you can roll in any of those spots lets you pick and choose, varying it each time round. Much the same applies to the B part.

On flute, the Orphan works well at any speed, stripped down to the bare melody, or gussied up with rolls, cuts, triplets, smears, etc.

# Posted on April 27th 2006 by Will CPT

Mr. Whoosis, Cape Breton Fiddler Wendy McIsaac plays the almost identical version of the tune on Mary Jane Lamond's album. It seems she learned it off Ivers' recording and forged a flute-friendly version by herself.

I never ever heard it played in sessions, but I love its primitive feel.

# Posted on April 27th 2006 by slainte

Orphan in Gminor

Does anyone have the ABC's for the Orphan in Gminor. On Up Close: track 11 Kevin Burke plays the Orphan,in Em, then Mist on the Mountain in what I think is Aminor (key of C key sig) and then goes back to the Orphan..I think in Gminor and then on to the Stolen Purse in G

# Posted on June 7th 2006 by Acacia

Orphan in Gm

Here's one take on the Orphan in Gm. Lots more you could do with this.

X: 1
T: Orphan, The
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
K: Gm
D|~G3 GFD|BAB cBc|d2 d cdc|BAB GFD|
C2 G GFD|~B3 cBc|dcd cdc|1 BGF G2 D:|2 BGF G3||
~g3 fdc|Bcd fdfgfd cBc|~d3 cBA|
B2 A GFD|~B3 cBc|ded cdc|1 BGF G2 f:|2 BGF G2 D||

# Posted on June 7th 2006 by Will CPT

Orphan in Amin

Here's another version for the flute:

This is pretty much how Kevin Burke plays it on Up Close, just transposed to fit the flute. The C nat in the second part can be left out and rolled around.

# Posted on December 23rd 2006 by skh

The 1st couple of bars are similar to Culcrevie http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display.php/1680.

# Posted on August 3rd 2007 by Dow

Another E minor fiddler version

X: 1
T: Orphan, The
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
R: jig
K: Emin
~E3 EDB,|GFG A3|B3 ABA|GEF EDB,|
~A,3 EDB,|GFG AGA|B3 ABA|1 GED EGF:|2 GED E3|
efe dBA|GAB d3|efe dBA|BEF EDB,|
~A,3 EDB,|GFG AGA|~B3 ABA|1 GED E3:|2 GED EGF||

# Posted on February 17th 2008 by airport

On Billy McComiskey's album as "Miss Casey's".

# Posted on April 6th 2008 by Dow