George White's Favorite

I first heard this on a tape of a tape etc of some old 78's & LP's that someone had put together in the 60's or 70's it had various people on it. I'm 99% that this cut was Paddy Canny, but I could be wrong. There was a piano playing Mixolydian Chords behind him & although they wouldn't be considered the "right" chords by some of today's backers the chords the piano choose gave this tune even more of a lift. I had no Idea of the name but a friend just clued me in as of late. It's a nice reel that goes nice on both the flute & the fiddle.

# Posted on May 31st 2002 by Brad Maloney

Naming of this tune

Actually, George White's and Carracastle Lass (or Boys of Carrowcastle, as it's called here) are two entirely different tunes that became confused because they were originally recorded consecutively on an early recording that was reissued on the CD From Galway to Dublin. You can also hear them played consecutively on a more recent recording by Paddy Ryan and Jim Corry on the CD The Mountain Road, track 9.

# Posted on January 29th 2004 by rabrams

Here's a version based in part on the playing of Kevin Burke--just subtly different from Brad's original.

X: 1
T: George White's Favorite
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
R: reel
K: Gmaj
Bd|:e~B3 eBdB|AGAB GEDE|G~B3 GABd|eBdB A2 Bd|
|e~B3 eBdB|AGAB GEDE|GABd gedB|1 AGAB GABd:|2 AGAB G2 de||
|:gede gaba|~g3a gede|dega bgag|eaag a2 ga|
|bgeg d2 de|gede gaba|~g3a gedB|1 AGAB G2 de:|2 AGAB GABd||

# Posted on August 30th 2004 by Miss Lonelyhearts

Will's Version

Thanks for that, Will. That's a nice setting. I do love the way Kevin plays this on Portland, and it goes great on the box.

# Posted on May 20th 2005 by kris

Also played in D

This tune is recorded in D on Molloy & Kaene "Contentment is Wealth" and O'Shaughnessy & Bradley "... born for sport." It's something like this:

Of course, it's better to slow down a little bit in the key.

# Posted on May 20th 2005 by slainte

According to Paul Brock, George White was a piccolo-playing publican in New York.

# Posted on December 13th 2005 by slainte

I'm enjoying playing a slightly different version of the tune in D at home. You can listen to me play it here: http://slainte.web.infoseek.co.jp/sound_e.html I will probably replace them with better takes in the future.

# Posted on June 28th 2006 by slainte

Other Recordings

There's an excelent version of this song done by Miliosa (McWeeney) Lundy on banjo. It's a late 1970's record titled Off To California by local San Francisco bay area musicians.

# Posted on January 16th 2007 by odonnell415

Fantastic video here

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Iqp4I8bNq54&feature=related

this tune s the second one...starting at about 00:42 on the timer thingy

fan-fooking-tastic

# Posted on May 31st 2008 by D.J.F.

The Reeler - Hornpipe - It's identical

I have some sheet music here with a hornpipe listed as "The Reeler". Melodically it is identical to 'George White's'. It's just written as a hornpipe.

# Posted on July 5th 2008 by jimod

"The Reeler Hornpipe"

What's the history behind your transcription? Where's it from jimod? As a hornpipe, if you're playing it, why not submit it here. If so, remember to link it back to the reel version...and please, give some background too... It's a lovely hornpipe...

# Posted on July 5th 2008 by ceolachan

George White's

Second tune nicely played here by Eric, Hugh, Colm Healy, Noel O'Donoghue and Seán McGrath
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWGQ5NNcaCw

# Posted on July 9th 2009 by conscientious objector