Off To California

hornpipe

Key signature: Gmajor

Submitted on May 21st 2001 by Jeremy.

This tune has been added to 716 tunebooks.

Also known as Bound For California, Fireman's, Fireman's Reel, The Fireman's Reel, The Fireman's, Going To California, Humours Of California, The Humours Of California, Imtigte Go California, The Juggler, Whiskey, The Whiskey .

Recordings of a tune by this name:

A Celtic Heritage by Marcille Wallis
A Flick Of The Wrist by Brendan Larrissey
Alesia by Rapalje
An Ceoltoir Fanach by Cathy Custy
As I Went Over Blackwater by Mick Hanly
Bean Chairdin by Dympna O'Sullivan
Bridgetown by Johnny B. Connolly
Cairde Cairdín by Diarmuid O'Brien
Ceol Na Carraige by The Owenabue Valley Trad Group
Dance Music Of Ireland: Volume 4 by Matt Cunningham
Dance Music Of Ireland: Volume 9 by Matt Cunningham
Dancing Through Ireland by Various Artists
Fiddle Duets by Andy McGann And Paddy Reynolds
Fiddle Fair: Declan McCarthy's Baltimore by Various Artists
Fluters Of Old Erin: Flute, Piccolo And Whistle Recordings Of The 1920's And 30's by Various Artists
Foinn Seisiun 2 by Ceoltóirí Cultúrlainne
From Galway To Dublin: Early Recordings Of Traditional Irish Music by Various Artists
Gerry MacFadden by Gerry McFadden
In Good Hands by Paddy Murphy
Irish Dance Music by Various Artists
Knot The Metronome by Runt O'the Litter
La Harpe Irlandaise - The Irish Harp by Katrien Delavier
Learning Irish Fiddle by Paul McNevin
Legacy by Tommy O Sullivan
Letting Go... by Katherine Irwin Thomas
Live In Concert by Brid Harper And Dermot Byrne
Luí Na Gréine by Seosamh Mac Grianna (Joe Mhicí Jimí)
Memoire Celte by Broken String
Open Hearth by Mary And Andrew MacNamara
Regrouped by Boys Of The Lough
Riverdance And Other Famous Irish Songs And Dances by Various Artists
Russell's House by Russell's House
Sarah McFadyen And Kris Drever by Sarah McFadyen And Kris Drever
Set Dances Of Ireland, Volume II by Various Artists
Slowplay Jigs, Reels And Hornpipes by Jeffrey Hillgrove
Spirit Of The Isles: A Concert For Beltane by Various Artists
The Gallowglass Ceili Band by The Gallowglass Ceili Band
The Galway Rambler by John G. Walsh
The Music Of Kevin Keegan by Kevin Keegan
The Parish Platform by Rattle The Boards
The Russell Family Of Doolin, County Clare by The Russell Family
Traditional Irish Dance Music by All Star Ceilidhe Band
Traditional Irish Dance Music: All Star Ceili Band by Joe Derrane
Traditional Irish Tunes Played On The Tin Whistle (2/2) by Geraldine Cotter
Traditional Music In Support Of Doolin Coast And Cliff Rescue Service by Various Artists
With A Lot Of Help From Their Friends by Mary Custy And Eoin O'Neill

Details ABC Sheetmusic Comments

As usual with hornpipes, this tune needs to be played with a certain "bounce". If you overdo it, though, it'll just sound twee. The trick is to play it with a different emphasis than you would play a reel but without going completely over to the "dotted" rhythm that you see in so many transcriptions of hornpipes.

I find the first part of this tune fairly bland but the second part has a nice cascading sound that I like.

# Posted on June 1st 2001 by Jeremy

Far from Home

The second half is rather similar to the second half of 'Far From Home' is it not?

# Posted on July 19th 2004 by jakki S

I see what you mean, Jakki, though I did't realised that.

# Posted on July 19th 2004 by slainte

Leadint Notes

Is it only me who play the triplets (3DEF and (3def before the first part and the second part respectively?

# Posted on July 19th 2004 by slainte

Re: Leading notes

No.

I do it do. And I usually put in some more of that stuff here and there...

# Posted on July 19th 2004 by Pontus Adefjord

Okay, need some help here -- have someone who has played mainly Old Time and Bluegrass and English trad at our session, and she played a completely different B to this tune -- it sounded kind of Scottish/GHB-ish to me. Anybody know what the story is with this different setting?

# Posted on May 2nd 2005 by Zina Lee

Aha! Never mind, I figured it out, she's playing the Fireman's Reel.

# Posted on May 2nd 2005 by Zina Lee

"The Fireman's" ~ what Californian's do to hornpipes ~

reel / hornpipe ~ to swing or not to swing
Key signature: A Major
Submitted on November 6th 2002 by Trevor Jennings.
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display.php/1115

# Posted on March 7th 2006 by ceolachan

I meant the plural 'Californians', but they can be a mighty possessive bunch too...

# Posted on March 7th 2006 by ceolachan

see The Sweet Flowers Of Milltown (barndance) and Tom Morrison's (reel) for related tunes (obvious in the first part)

# Posted on July 10th 2007 by birlibirdie

Origins of Off to California

Does anyone know (or want to make up) the origins of this tune?

Thanks,
Petey

# Posted on June 13th 2009 by Petey_Whistle

Mary and Andrew MacNamara

Here is what they play on the fantastic album "Open Hearth" :

K: Gmaj
|:GFGB AGED|GFGB d2d2|egge dBBG|ABAG E2D2|
|GFGB AGED|GFGB d2d2|egge dBBG|1 A2G2 G2DE:| 2 A2G2 G2Gg||
|:gfeg fed2|edBd edBd|g3d edBG|ABAG E2D2|
|GFGB AGED|GFGB d2d2|egge dBBG|1 A2G2 G2Gg:| 2 A2G2 G2DE||

That's it, more or less...

# Posted on September 23rd 2009 by charliechamo