"Bonaparte's Retreat" ~ Luther Strong, 1937

Kentucky fiddler luther Strong playing "Bonaparte's Retreat." Recorded in 1937 by Alan Lomax for the Library of Congress.

This is posted as reference to an article on "Bonaparte's Retreat" to be found here:

http://againstthemodernworld.blogspot.com/2008/03/bonapartes-retreat.html

Category:

Music

Tags:

• bonaparte
• bonaparte's
• retreat
• luther
• strong
• alan
• lomax
• kentucky
• fiddle

[averagehero12]

I am LUTHER STRONGS grandaughter my mother is his daughter my mother is 82 I am 47it is something else to hear my grandfather playing his music on the internet thank you all for listening.

[OOfiddlestickerOO]

I would like William Stepp's version more if people didn't say "beef, it's what's for dinner" after i am done playing. But i do like explaining that Copland copied Stepp almost note for note.

and this is the more common version in the Appalachians anyway. It sounds so much more old-timey

[Simrose88]

You should be very proud. What a debt we owe to the Lomax's and the Library of Congress - so much wonderful talent and music could easily have been lost forever.

[averagehero12]

I am a part of this great hertiage I love listening to LUTHER STRONG my grandfather play in his own way .

[TennesseeShine]

I prefer William Stepp's version but this one has its own merits. That's what fiddlin' is all about - individual expression expression and variations rather than slavish copycatting of great old tunes. Thank God for Lomax and the Smithsonian Institute's far-reaching vision and perserverance in capturing and archiving these fine pieces of traditional music!