"Bonaparte’s Retreat" - Bruce Molsky at GMW 2017

Bruce Molsky (fiddle) plays two versions of "Bonaparte's Retreat" at Silkroad's 2017 Global Musician Workshop at DePauw University in Greencastle, IN.
silkroadproject.org
Videography © Doug Fellegy

[@chazworm3]

I initially thought they had shrunk Bruce Molsky down and that was a book beside him

[@gutbucket260]

People do shrink a little as they age, but Bruce never seems to age. That's how big the book would be of all the tunes this guy knows.

[@williamsearle543]

That's funny right there... 😂

[@philandcarolgood-elliott6129]

Enthralling! Thanks so much, Bruce.

[@rainking63]

I just threw my fiddle in the fireplace. Never gonna play that good.

[@gutbucket260]

Take a workshop with him. He's a great teacher and something good and wonderful will come of it.

[@robertshorthill4153]

Jameson Nordberg -- sorry to hear of that, son!! Now you're gonna have to get another fiddle so you can check out a version of BP by a fellow named Paul Kirk. It's played as an Irish reel, and is "Americanized", I guess. His version can be played for at least 20 or 30 minutes, letting everyone get a break, or 'til somebody yells " Last time". Now that's a damn fine way to play a great old tune!! ( With yer new fiddle, you should also learn one called "the Silver Spire" from Fiddle Castro or Peakfiddler on YT). Another great tune that would make you want to take that sweet baby to bed with you, maybe under your pillow. In a case, of course. Sweet dreams, dude. Ha, ha! Cheers, friend. Bob

[@cliffsandifer3877]

wha? well go get it "fore it catches .....I play this and play the didgeridoo to fill up bottolm like a bagpipe sound...

[@williamsearle543]

I might give up my firstborn and my eye teeth to play like Bruce for one day... (well- not my first born, but definitely the teeth.)

[@gutbucket260]

I'll see those teeth and raise you two more. Double or nothing.

[@gstan471]

William Searle probably by the time any of us get that good the teeth will be gone. 🤤

[@NewHummerOwner]

Or turn off KZbin, put the phone down, quit your day job, and practice for 10 hours a day for the next 15 years. Nah... me either.

[@danielperry8221]

I've heard this played a hundred different ways-I like this version..hope to be playing it sorta like this some day..

[@philbanjo1]

Thank you sir.

[@MrMusicguyma]

I, too noticed that it is crooked. Harder for me to learn from, but it is Bruce's version (and a fine one) based on tradition. Every fiddle player I know (including me) has his or her own version. And it has been thus for probably 200 years.

[@robertshorthill4153]

MrMusicguyma,. Yes, I agree -- there are almost as many versions of this great old workhorse tune as there are fiddlers. It was originally composed as a durge by the Irish, who, fighting on the side of the French with Bonaparte, were defeated at Waterloo by the Brits. Their lot was bound to be less than pleasant in the eyes of the victorious British. This durge, or whatever form this tune took from those old days, has stood the test of time and has become an iconic classic, played in all parts of the world. This so called "dead man" tuning is the proper way it should be played, as it resembles that bagpipe drone of the D notes ( DDAD). One should have two fiddles, so one can be tuned standard, the other to DDAD, or some other cross tuning. It's hard to keep in tune by dropping those strings, unless it's tuned that way for at least a week and left that way. I'm told the British banned the bagpipes being played by the Scots, because it inspired too much anti- British sentiments and emotions. It was a powerful instrument, apparently, and the Scots, being "industrious and defiant", " invented" a way to get that feeling with a fiddle -- hense, the Dead Man tuning. Listen to John Specker's version on YT and see if this durge isn't one hell of an emotional piece of music. It's played as a march, so march off to defeat, if you must.... Cheers, my friend. Bob in Montana. PS -- I have heard perhaps five or six different versions of this tune, including Glenn Campbell's w/ Ms Tucker. 😰😰🙄😳💰😜🤭🤪

[@TheDeathInTheAir]

Thank you, Possom. I love this!

[@cliffsandifer3877]

using the DDAD tuining ( I do it too, Bruce is better known than i am )

[@brandonbalenger4210]

The 2nd part is actually the Hoedown section of the composition, "Rodeo" by Copland. Better known as the Beef commercial song.

[@Esus4]

@@theancientmariner5418 I've always liked the country reinvention of the tune which if you listen to the lyrics references playing Bonaparte's Retreat. kzbin.info/www/bejne/eHmWgIOFo7qje9U

[@kcalhoun32]

Copeland actually lifted that part from another version (William Stepp) that was housed at the Library of Congress.

[@DanPurdy1]

I have read that this tune was written by Napoleon’s hired hand soldiers from Ireland as they retreated from Moscow with a great loss of life and solely injured compatriots. Napoleon made no provision for feeding his army and the Russians burned everything edible on their path out.

[@phreakadelik21]

Is this in ddad?

[@annettenelson3453]

what do you fellas mean by "crooked?"

[@richarddoi6753]

Seth already answered this question.

[@KentuckyCarla]

It's not in an even 4/4 meter. There can be extra beats.

[@jimtownsend8010]

He's making it a crooked tune, and its not a crooked tune.

[@jimtownsend8010]

So Resonant, cool!

[@ocrakoce]

There are many versions, some of which are crooked www.slippery-hill.com/search-page?search_api_views_fulltext=bonaparte%27s%20retreat I think the first one is Luther Strong's followed by the Stepp version

[@NateMurrayEigenjoy]

I love it

[@bernhardnizynski4403]

Bruce can make it what he likes!

[@seth11247]

@voilaviolamh A crooked tune means that it isn't exactly square, or it cuts off or adds a beat to a section of a tune. That's the best way I can describe it.