"Ranahan's March", also known as "The Freemason's March" or "Napoleon Crossing the Rhine"
is an American march in 4/4 time and D Major. The parts are played AA'BB.
It is a version of the well-known "Bonaparte Crossing the Rhine". Some Fayette County players call it "Bruce's March", while among Green County fiddlers its name generally is "The Star of Bethlehem". Bayard once heard it played by a New Jersey fiddler who gave it the ubiquitous name of "Bonaparte's Retreat", actually a different tune. This title commemorates a local band-master. It was collected by Samuel Bayard from Sarah Armstrong. It was printed in Bayard's Hill Country Tunes (1944). |