John Specker- Bonaparte's Retreat 2020

Fiddling sensation John Specker performs in the Okemo Valley TV studio, January 2020.

[@joep4635]

After listening to many talented players and their versions, this is the very best of all. Thank you.

[@TheDustinFreshour]

The day after I watched this I signed up for violin lessons.

[@nanettie]

I like the aggression and the rhythm in this version. It makes me think of retreating soldiers, walking together and trying to keep their spirits up.

[@lgude]

I have never seen this kind of foot percussion before except among French Canadian musicians using a similar foot board. John’s performance is plainly Keltic, one commenter said they could hear the bagpipes and I can too. I notice that French Canadian musicians unselfconsciously tap away with both feet even when they just using the floor. Perhaps the French speaking Arcadians ie Nova Scotia and their Scottish neighbours influenced each other musically before they were forced out and ended up in Louisiana and became know as Cajuns. “Je suits ‘Cadian.”

[@dragnflei]

Speechless. Wonderful rendition and thank you for sharing the story behind the tune.

[@zachb8012]

The stomping is definitely a great part of this tune. Really adds to the feel.

[@bluesageful]

One of my favorite songs of all time!.... Now one of favorite versions! Well done!

[@michaelwalling2947]

Just sitting in my chair and tapping my feet in time with Mr. Specker's rhythm is a terrific aerobic workout!

[@jiminman6726]

Well done, thank you very much for the history and for your talent. I can hear the bagpipes...

[@donarrington4835]

I find the history of Bonaparte's Retreat fascinating.......I did not know this until now, and I find myself listening to your version quite often. Thank you very much.

[@maryannj.dreas-shaikha230]

Sir, that is absolutely sublime! Such feeling, rhythm, and tone. Best version I have yet heard.

[@marilynwhitmore8610]

I loved your version of this song have you listened to Luther strong play this in 1937 he was my grandfather

[@MarkRBlackwell]

Haven't played since I was 10, and you've inspired me to get back into fiddle playing 20 years later. Excellent rendition of this song, John. Perhaps the best recording on the web.

[@danielperry8221]

I've heard this played a hundred different ways- this is a good version..

[@Tomingham59]

I'm trying to learn this one. I like your version.

[@Genetk44]

Yeah I agree, John does this tune beautifully....his version is my favourite.

[@tonyhayes4980]

Beautiful ❤

[@brentnearhood8874]

Thanks! John 🎶🎻

[@mesquitoful]

I met Pee Wee King in a motel parking lot in Alabama 1978 when I was 10. Totally forgot about it until recently. Had no idea who he was. 30 minutes on the internet brings me to this. I hate the internet, except when I love it. Thank God he had a name that’s easy to remember after 45 or so years

[@samwaring739]

I'm ENCHANTED that Mr. Specker's playing W. H. Stepp's version, which of course Aaron Copland stole as the main theme for the "Hoedown" section of his ballet _Rodeo._

[@griffcrammond6640]

Brilliant. Just brilliant.

[@erickvarelawellness]

Beautiful

[@37BE01Red]

I am a Britisher and thank God for Wellington's glorious victory against the military despot Napoleon Bonaparte at the Battle of Waterloo, but again would like to thank you, sir, for a lovely rendering of a moving tune.

[@lonesomelou4188]

Did you also enjoy Rothschild taking over the British economy by deception when he falsified the results of that. battle, causing stockholders to dump their holdings, enabling him to scoop up the stocks at bargain basement prices?

[@peterdale3839]

It was not the battle of Waterloo but the retreat from Moscow

[@Zarastro54]

He was hardly any more despotic than any of the other monarchs of the time. His problem was that he was an upstart, but he was essentially doing in “modern” (for them) times what all the ancestors of the ruling families had done.

[@adrianjohnson7920]

@@Zarastro54 Most Despots are content to stay within their borders. Napoleon was ruining France in his bid to take over Europe and put his talentless family on thrones where they were hated. Thank God his wise (though dispised) and peace-loving Foreign Minister Prince Talleyrand betrayed him to Czar Alexander and brought Napoleon down. Talleyrand had worked to bring Napoleon to power, to end the reign of Terror; but knew when it was time for regime change. Talleyrand loved France itself more than any particular regime -- he said, "I never betrayed a government which hadn't first betrayed itself." A complex political genius, former bishop, Machivellian cynic, and enduringly charismatic character. Many of Napoleon's former supporters moved to New Orleans.

[@michaelsommers2356]

Don't you mean Blucher's glorious victory?

[@Super64heavy]

Love his playing! Great song

[@williamsearle543]

Love this... thanks for sharing it. I too have been trying to get this learned... after a few months I have so far yet to go..

[@geraldinebaker1007]

The best!

[@Faithriders4830]

Bravo!

[@chucksiler7749]

Well done sir.

[@clivelangman8696]

Great playing...but the story is apocryphal. "Bonaparte's Retreat" is a reference to Bonaparte's disastrous retreat from Russia in 1812, which led to his downfall and finally ended the danger that he would invade England. There are a number of 19th-century British folk songs celebrating the event. Little evidence of any Irish origin although, of course, it is frequently difficult to define the origins of many tunes within the British Isles given the way music has travelled. There were Irish at Waterloo of course.....but on the British, not French side. An estimated 8,500 of the Duke of Wellington's 28,000 British soldiers, including Wellington himself, or 30 per cent of the total, were Irish. Based on a casualty rate of 25 per cent it can be ascertained that at least 2,000 Irishmen were killed or wounded at the Battle of Waterloo. In 2015 the Irish Taoiseach Enda Kenny attended a charity banquet in the Guildhall in London on the eve of the Waterloo 200 centenary to honour the Irish involved who fought in the battle. .

[@clivelangman8696]

PS I hope the above explanation contributes to an understanding as to why it is a happy tune (usually played in G major...no minor key here). Circumstance made me do a bit of research.....,there were three Irish regiments at Waterloo, the 27th Foot (Inniskilling Fusiliers), the 6th Inniskilling Dragoons and the 18th (King’s Irish) Hussars with the Duke of |Wellington. There is little evidence of more than a few Irish on Napoleon's side (but there is a story of brothers on opposite side) but it seems these were disaffected Catholics who made their own way there. But,as I say, the tune owes its origin to Napoleon's retreat from Moscow, when a number of such tunes appeared, and not to Waterloo.

[@daveconnor2347]

I reluctantly agree with you, because I like the idea of Napoleon’s Irish Brigade as the origin better, but the Irish Brigade was disbanded due to casualties in 1810, two years before the Retreat.

[@Wagsss2x]

U lying?

[@doorwaysintomusic]

Amazing feet percussion!

[@morgan7023]

excellent

[@ericrexer1829]

It would also sound nice on a Hardinger fiddle.

[@beiseiipautu9733]

Nice !

[@FantomasXZ7]

Beautiful!

[@nicholasmcclary4119]

What kind of chain is that, that he's wearing?

[@patrickmcsheoinin4808]

I thought it was about napoleon's retreat from MOSCOW A third of wellingtons British army at Waterloo were IRISH most were actual IRISH speakers Most join to escape poverty at that time anti IRISH Catholic laws had been removed so IRISH could join army, as Britain was building an empire and needed soldiers The 27th inniskilling fusiliers held the center of wellingtons line and never broke, no matter what the French through at them cannon balls cavalry musket Napoleon's was to have said after looking through his spy glass don't those donkey's know when they're beat Wellington said after the battle the regiment with the castles on their hats which meant the 27th inniskillings had a castle badge in the front of their hats They held my line and if they didn't the battle would have went napoleon's way

[@glennlee8770]

Aly Bain’s version is more soulful. More like defeated soldiers trudging home.