In 1937, a Kentucky fiddler named William Hamilton Stepp played a tune called “Bonaparte’s Retreat” for a field recording project.
That raw, powerful performance - recorded in a single take - would later inspire composer Aaron Copland to create one of America’s most iconic orchestral works: “Hoe-Down” from Rodeo.
But who was Stepp?
How did a self-taught mountain fiddler end up shaping the post-war classical music of an entire nation? And why has his name nearly disappeared from music history?
In this video, we uncover the story behind the man, the music, and the moment that connected folk tradition to the concert hall.
🎶 Featuring:
Archival recordings of William H. Stepp
The surprising link between Stepp’s “Bonaparte’s Retreat” and Copland’s “Hoe-Down”
Historical context from the Library of Congress field recordings
Rare photos and analysis of Appalachian fiddle style
