"Pete's Breakdown", also known as "Peas Breakdown" is a Canadian breakdown in C Major (‘A’ part) & A Minor (‘B’ part). The parts are played AB. It was composed by Edmonton, Alberta, fiddler Émilien "Pete" Couture (1903-1977). Couture was a college educated musician who studied violin in Winnipeg, followed by two years studying under Alfred Mergelin in Los Angeles. In addition to his various endeavors with his fiddle ensembles, he played with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra and had a popular broadcast on Canadian radio and TV. The strains of "Pete's Breakdown" are sometimes played reversed. It was printed in Silberberg's Tunes I Learned at Tractor Tavern (2002), Songer's The Portland Collection, vol. 2 (2005) (in B minor and D, from the playing of Richard Forest). It was recorded by Don Messer & His Islanders (1953) and on The Best of Don Messer and his Islanders, vol. 6 (1960). The Don Messer recording is in C and A minor, with the part in C first. I learned this at our Monday night jams. We play it in B minor and D.