Bruce Molsky: “Bonaparte’s Retreat”

Peghead Nation old-time fiddle instructor plays William Stepp’s version of the classic tune.

There are a lot of versions of “Bonaparte’s Retreat.” The lively one that Peghead Nation Old-Time Fiddle instructor Bruce Molsky plays here comes from William Hamilton Stepp of Magoffin County, Kentucky. Stepp recorded it for Alan Lomax in 1937 and his version became the basis for the “Hoedown” section of Aaron Copland’s ballet Rodeo.

To learn great old-time fiddle tunes like this from Bruce, enroll in his Old-Time Fiddle course on Peghead Nation today.

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