Andah1andah2 - Posted - 09/05/2010:  05:22:54

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Some questions spark spirited and often “good natured” conversation, such as “What is easier to play old-time or bluegrass fiddle?” and “I’m new to fiddling. What’s the best type of fiddle to buy?” Throw into that mix, “What is the origin of Bonaparte’s Retreat?” I will not attempt to identify where or who played it first. I had a list of history from the Fiddler’s Companion but then thought better of it.

I will throw in this piece of trivia from the Fiddler’s Companion. It was “Bonaparte’s Retreat” that was the first tune Braxton County fiddler Melvin Wine (1909-1999) learned at the age of nine.

It is played in many styles, in various tunings, and some versions with a C part and lyrics added. I have heard many different versions and while I find the lyrics “catchy” I do prefer a more old-time version. My teacher played it for me in DDAD tuning which is incredible, making the fiddle sound like bagpipes playing.

This was the first tune I was able to learn by ear where I figured out how to add double stops (really drones). I usually don’t play the C part because it sounds like a snake should rise up out of my fiddle case when played.

Some fiddle tunes are great to dance to, others are great toe-tappers, Bonaparte’s Retreat is special because for me, when played just right, it becomes almost hypnotic and those drones resonate within you. A newbie can also play it fairly well and sound purty good.

And so without further ado, my TOTW:

A great fiddler
Clyde Davenport youtube.com/watch?v=bvwxEOoF1UM

One of my favorite versions
Luther Strong youtube.com/watch?v=erHRstAkRR...e=related

The master at work
Tommy Jarrell youtube.com/watch?v=D3XxWireb_...e=related

Good version sounding very bagpipe-like youtube.com/watch?v=hCROK5gNVb...e=related

Old-time traditional youtube.com/watch?v=xgB8LLMVoj...e=related

More bluegrass style with the infamous C part youtube.com/watch?v=BPDreqjY7V...e=related

squawkeye - Posted - 09/05/2010:  06:12:28

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Great tune choice! Surely we must add William Stepp's version, perhaps the most widely recognized old time tune of all time (thanks to Aaron Copland...and the beef council). "Bony part" and all :)

youtube.com/watch?v=1yeQucos9-...e=related

tiquose - Posted - 09/05/2010:  08:43:48

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That bagpipe-like version has some stylistic elements that I will try to incorporate into my own playing. Great choice for TOTW!

How can I get the sound from the YouTube video and put it on disc?

bsed - Posted - 09/05/2010:  10:18:29

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So do you like to play it in standard tuning, DDAD, or other?

Teufelhunden54 - Posted - 09/05/2010:  10:35:13

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quote:

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Originally posted by tiquose

That bagpipe-like version has some stylistic elements that I will try to incorporate into my own playing. Great choice for TOTW!

How can I get the sound from the YouTube video and put it on disc?

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You can get a RealPlayer at realplayer.com free. You can download the video from youtube to your computer. You can pay for a RealPlayer that you can use to transfer them to DVD. I don't believe there is a free program for burning DVD's but you can use the free one for downloading videos. When you go to YouTube you will see a little pop-up window for downloading the video that is playing. Click it.
There is a program that you can get from YouTube to download audio files. You can use Windows Media Player to transfer them to disc.

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Edited by - Teufelhunden54 on 09/05/2010 10:48:51

Ozarkian D.L. - Posted - 09/05/2010:  10:54:33

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Bag-pipe'y, drone'y, double-stop'y and strang-pluck'y.....it's a great one with many versions by many different fiddlers Stew. Think I'm partial to tha one by William H. Stepp tho.

Here'z tha way I herd it down here in tha Ozarks....standard GDAE....... :

fiddlehangout.com/myhangout/vi...p?id=1492

Thnx. fer a great choice fer TOTW.

[ Cm'on u'all, les not let tha TOTW die ]

tiquose - Posted - 09/05/2010:  11:04:29

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quote:

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Originally posted by Teufelhunden54

[quote]Originally posted by tiquoseWhen you go to YouTube you will see a little pop-up window for downloading the video that is playing. Click it.
There is a program that you can get from YouTube to download audio files. You can use Windows Media Player to transfer them to disc.

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Hmm, I must have YouTube configured differently. I don't see any of that ...

scrubber - Posted - 09/05/2010:  12:46:37

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Given all the two part versions, how / when did that (expletive deleted) 'C' part come in??

dave

Andah1andah2 - Posted - 09/05/2010:  12:57:26

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Stepp's version is classic and a great representation of the version that revived the tune in the 1930's. I dunno, I guess that version got ruined for me with that lousy Beef Council Ad campaign, no disrespect to Stepp. I have the same problem with Golden Slippers. Every time I hear it, I also hear that lousy breakfast cereal commercial from the 1980's, "Golden Grahams".

Right now I play it in standard tuning as I haven't learned or ventured yet into any other tuning, Soon...

I think the intro that Jarrell gives in his version is just as classic as the tune itself. I also like his humor at the end. The fiddler's companion does say that some had a tradition of playing the tune faster at the end to mimic a retreat.

Dave, I think the C part may have come along when someone added lyrics to the tune, which may have occurred in the late 1940's? "All the world seemed bright when I kissed her on that night. And I heard her say, please don't ever go away."

Surely one of my buds will take the TOTW baton from me???

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Edited by - Andah1andah2 on 09/05/2010 13:00:52

Teufelhunden54 - Posted - 09/05/2010:  13:36:10

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I remember it being popular first in the 1950's with the recording of it by Kay Starr. The C part may have been added then. I play it without the C part. Love it.

forestabri - Posted - 09/06/2010:  07:56:15

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quote:

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Originally posted by tiquose

That bagpipe-like version has some stylistic elements that I will try to incorporate into my own playing. Great choice for TOTW!

How can I get the sound from the YouTube video and put it on disc?

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I use this program to extract audio. The free version works fine.
aoamedia.com/audioextractor.htm

this one grabs the video from youtube.
orbitdownloader.com
there a tool in the program called "Grab ++" under the tools menu. You start the grabber then start the video. Wait for the .flv file to appear then download it. When you have the video saved as an .flv open it with AOA audio extractor and save the audio in any format you want.

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Edited by - forestabri on 09/06/2010 08:27:38

Percy - Posted - 09/06/2010:  09:32:56

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Here's my favorite. And the tune used to have a reputation for being sad... I think this might have been something like the version they were listening to...

youtube.com/watch?v=eNigFpaBBf...e=related

scrubber - Posted - 09/06/2010:  10:24:58

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quote:

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Originally posted by Andah1andah2

Surely one of my buds will take the TOTW baton from me???

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Yer doin' alright, Stew! Thanks for your contribution!

dave

George Shepherd - Posted - 09/06/2010:  12:54:42

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quote:

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Originally posted by Percy

Here's my favorite.

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Mine too. The opening bars make the hair on the back of my neck stand up!

Teufelhunden54 - Posted - 09/06/2010:  17:35:47

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quote:

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Originally posted by tiquose

quote:

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Originally posted by Teufelhunden54

[quote]Originally posted by tiquoseWhen you go to YouTube you will see a little pop-up window for downloading the video that is playing. Click it.
There is a program that you can get from YouTube to download audio files. You can use Windows Media Player to transfer them to disc.

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Hmm, I must have YouTube configured differently. I don't see any of that ...

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There are certain browsers that have problems with Real Player, such as Google Chrome, but Internet Explorer doesn't have any problem. Use Internet Explorer since there are no issues with it. I had that same problem with the window not showing up, but wrote Real Player with the problem and they said to use Internet Explorer and I did, and the window came up every time.

Runaway - Posted - 09/07/2010:  07:27:07

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I have heard two different explanations for that %$#& C part. Alan Jabbour said it was added by the 50's band that also added the lyrics. I heard another folklorist say that two fiddlers stuck it in the song as a kind of prank on some field collectors. I'm betting on the first explanation.

Maybe it is mentioned in the fiddler's companion, but I think that the tune was composed in Ireland in homage to Bonnaparte. (An enemy of the English is a friend of ours kind of thing). I have heard that there are a number of tunes that were written that glorify the wee conqueror. I don't know the history of Bon. Crossing the ______ (rhine, rockies, alps, take your pick)

I think the stepp version is different enough to be considered a separate tune.

For a lot of fun, stick Washington's March, Stepp's B. Retreat, Dry and Dusty, and B. Retreat into a medley. I play Rylan Spencer in DDAD (where TJ played it?) And it is a lot of fun. Ohh and don't forget cruel willy.

bj - Posted - 09/07/2010:  08:42:18

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I love playing this tune in DDAD,but since there are so few tunes that fit in that tuning, I usually end up playing it in ADAE with the rest of my D tunes. I play the three part version, it's just too fun, especially since so many people recognize that snake charmer part (which, when we were kids, we used to sing words to-- "and the girls in france, they don't wear no underpants!")

quote:

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Use Internet Explorer since there are no issues with it.

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Now there is a statement that is a TOTAL oxymoron. IE may not present problems with Real Player, but it is an insecure browser that can cause all kinds of other problems. I suggest staying away from it entirely. You have many other secure and better choices. And Real Player should join the 21st century and realize that not everyone uses IE. There are definitely alternatives to Real Player. Firefox has add-ons that easily snag the audio out of youtube videos.

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Edited by - bj on 09/07/2010 08:48:45

Teufelhunden54 - Posted - 09/07/2010:  10:03:39

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quote:

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Originally posted by bj

I love playing this tune in DDAD,but since there are so few tunes that fit in that tuning, I usually end up playing it in ADAE with the rest of my D tunes. I play the three part version, it's just too fun, especially since so many people recognize that snake charmer part (which, when we were kids, we used to sing words to-- "and the girls in france, they don't wear no underpants!")

quote:

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Use Internet Explorer since there are no issues with it.

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Now there is a statement that is a TOTAL oxymoron. IE may not present problems with Real Player, but it is an insecure browser that can cause all kinds of other problems. I suggest staying away from it entirely. You have many other secure and better choices. And Real Player should join the 21st century and realize that not everyone uses IE. There are definitely alternatives to Real Player. Firefox has add-ons that easily snag the audio out of youtube videos.

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BJ, I guess you licked all the candy off my apple, but I was advising someone who downloaded Real Player, and the advice still stands. BTW, there is no perfect browser, they all have security issues.
Just choose your poison.

bj - Posted - 09/07/2010:  16:55:43

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quote:

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BTW, there is no perfect browser, they all have security issues.

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But the one that is part of the operating system and not in its own sandbox has the MOST security issues.

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Edited by - bj on 09/07/2010 16:57:24

Runaway - Posted - 09/07/2010:  19:18:37

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Dirk Powell's "mountain air" is another good DDAD tune.

I am surprised no_one has mentioned the murder of fiddler henry? Grooms by captain teague in WNC. They used to call it groom's tune. He played it before they executed them (just like in cold mtn, only he didn't live)

Lonesome Fiddler - Posted - 09/07/2010:  19:28:14

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I've actually found that the tune sounds pretty good in standard tuning, played in G.

fyoder - Posted - 09/08/2010:  04:23:03

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Firefox web browser has an add on for downloading youtube vids. Tools->add-ons->Get Add ons, search for youtube. There's a number that come up. I'm using 1-click Youtube Video Downloader , works fine, though I see they've got one that will convert vids to mp3 which might be what you want if you just want the sound (TweakTube). I was just leaving Youtube to store youtube, but then my favourite version of the Chiquita Banana song disappeared. When it reappeared many months later, I installed the add on and grabbed a copy before it disappeared again.

youtube.com/watch?v=0A834CwzNHI

Still there for now.

With regard to IE, I'm with BJ. IE's tie ins to the OS and security history give one cause for concern. Add that to the fact that anything MS is a big target for the bad guys since everyone is using MS. Even using Windows it's possible to protect yourself a bit by using non-Windows applications for web and mail and whatever else.

I like RealPlayer, though. I may be the only Linux geek in the world who does, though only for streaming their format, not as a general player.

carlb - Posted - 09/08/2010:  06:45:38

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quote:

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Originally posted by Andah1andah2

I will throw in this piece of trivia from the Fiddler’s Companion. It was “Bonaparte’s Retreat” that was the first tune Braxton County fiddler Melvin Wine (1909-1999) learned at the age of nine.

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While this is true, Melvin Wine's "Bonaparte's Retreat" is a jig, in 6/8 with the fiddle in AEAE, and is completely unrelated to the versions by Stepp and Strong, which are also unrelated to each other.

forestabri - Posted - 09/08/2010:  08:40:11

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Looks like ol' Bonypart was Retreating steppin' to a few different tunes of the same name!

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Edited by - forestabri on 09/08/2010 08:41:11

forestabri - Posted - 09/08/2010:  10:46:37

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I played the version with the dreaded "C" Hootchy-Cootchy part for my mom one day (85 years old) and she started singing some fairly rude words to it. I Googled her words and up came this website:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Stre...ntry_Maid
Interesting information!

kingfisher500 - Posted - 09/19/2010:  08:32:38

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quote:

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Originally posted by tiquose

That bagpipe-like version has some stylistic elements that I will try to incorporate into my own playing. Great choice for TOTW!

How can I get the sound from the YouTube video and put it on disc?

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It took me some time to find it, but here is a web site that converts extracts audio from youtube.com video and then downloads it to your computer.

<listentoyoutube.com/>

ChickenMan - Posted - 09/20/2010:  17:55:32

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Ahaz Augustus Gray
juneberry78s.com/otmsampler/01...treat.mp3

Andah1andah2 - Posted - 09/20/2010:  18:07:40

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Real purty version. Kinda like Strong's version.

groundhogpeggy - Posted - 09/22/2010:  13:21:51

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Why is it always close to supper time when I see all this good stuff on here???? These are all really good... I love the tune, and the ways people handle it are just awesome! I'm gonna have to come back later or tomorrow and spend some time really paying attention to these samples... GREAT tune of the week!!!