Mark O'Connor - "Midnight on the Water/Bonaparte's Retreat" - 2009 

Truly moves me . I am astounded . One of life's rarest moments . There is no equal . Thank You Mark . R.I.P. brother .

This was very moving for me. I closed my eyes and saw all my relations waiting for me as I arrived in heaven. I'd like to believe ethereal music accompanies us as we make our way to heaven.

A few years ago, there was a guy who played golf.. who was SO good that people would say - "He's not just good.. He's from another planet" I think O'Connor's genius far surpasses what any of us might refer to as genius. I'm glad I was on the planet while he was here. His music demonstrates to me what is possible.. His music refreshes my soul.

I was in a gloomy mood when I sat for hearing violin plays. But after hearing all my gloom went away and very enthusiastic and joyful. Heart felt thanks.

What a wonderful musician! I recommend the album Liberty to all of my fellow musicians ( I'm a piano player, but I love the violin as well). I bought the album years ago and still treasure it. Mark O'Connor is truly an American treasure.

What is amazing about this piece is that you can see and hear the connection between the mind of the musician and the fingers of the musician, and how they are connected. Magical stuff! Pure genius!

Wow, incredible - I hope I have the privilege of seeing you on stage someday.

World class appreciate everyone .

Man EVERY time I listen to this I feel satisfied with life on every aspect. This man is a genius, and a freaking savage at that hahaha

Mark, you certainly deserved being inducted into the National Fiddler's Hall of Fame. Wonderful performance!

This is the most amazing arrangements of those two songs I have heard.

Saw him as a kid at fiddle contests around the mid-South in the '70's. He was jaw-droppingly awesome then. He's an entire industry, now.

Benny Thomasson’s father wrote this tune I believe. It is amazing to hear how far mark took this tune . Moves the soul....

A truly gifted man.

What fantastic music! Thank you for performing and sharing.

Beautiful. This takes me back further than I can remember.

It is a privilege to listen to this

Goosebumps the minute you started - so good for the soul xox

i first saw mark on a utube video of american music shop while looking for bluegrass music now ive seen all his other genres i cant believe how much of a genius he is

This is absolutely breathtaking,literally. Where have you been all my life?

So beautifully played Mark great version lovely tone and tonality

Heavenly, just heavenly. Brings such joy to my soul.

I haven’t listened for awhile and when I came back, to my horror, I noticed I had somehow mistakenly given this a thumbs down. I feel like hand writing an apology to this man.

Mark, I've been a huge fan since you first put out your debut album .. way back in 1974 .. recorded at the Hound's Ear, Nashville Tenn .. remember that ? And your second album .. 1975 at the House of Cash, Hendersonville Tenn .. man, what a killer LP that one was .. & all those legendary muso's who joined you on that record. Your version of 'Midnight On The Water', off that 1975 album, is my all-time fave of that tune. HOW FAR YOU'VE COME SINCE THEM DAYS. Thankyou for this wonderful post !!

Mark O'Connor is from another planet;he's one of those greats.

I cannot explain how hard it is to play like *that*. Fella is truly Gifted!

Love it

I love that each fiddlers has their own version. No two are ever the same tho' all are awe inspiring!!

Awesome!

I've always enjoyed his masterful playing.

Exquisite!

awesome.. !!!!!!!!

Amazing !! Sooo Gooood !!!!!

Wonderful!

A master at work!

Mark has always been my favorite fiddle/violinist... I remember back in the day when "American Music Shop" would come on Saturday nights after I got home from the club I was playing at... Harry Stitson told me once that he had all of those shows recorded on VHS...He was the drummer.. I met Harry thru Marty Stuart.. All the guys from that era sat the bar so high..it still hasn't been challenged by anyone since... Listen to 'Freeborn Man" on youtube.. awesome. nice to see you still playing...

Soul stirring...like birds singing in Heaven.

Amazing how many fiddle players have never known about cross tuning for songs like this or Black Mountain Rag etc. Had the joy of seeing Mark's early influence Benny a few times many years ago. Vividly remember one contest at old Seminary South in Ft Worth. Terry Morris won everything he entered in those days just as Mark did. He knew Benny, Major, Vernon/Norman, EJ Hopkins and all the other greats of that era quite well as they had all mentored him along with his brother Dale . He won but I still think Benny beat him that day. Mark has taken Benny's amazing playing to an even higher level. Sure he is smiling down on him. Great stuff..

Brilliant

WOW... what can I say that hasn't been said here yet..... Stunningly Beautiful, an Amazing way of playing Violin "in a Bagpipes way" if I may say that; playing a sort of Bourdon (is this the right word? Not sure, I hope You know what I mean) with a Beautiful Timbre in the top-notes. Absolutely Incredibly Stunning...........

Maestro.

nice that he can play the drum parts while he's working through the grace notes within which the melody can be found... ^..^

We listen, play and create music for many reasons and almost all of those reasons are fair and justified. There's nothing wrong with a casual, basic experience with tunes folks listen too but there's also another part of it- a divine nature.

the best that ever was

Goosebumps at 7:00

A Master

The sheet music with this arrangement is available on Mark O'Connor's site :)

WOW! I would like to see the sheet music for this. =P

nice

❤️🎩

This piece with that droning sound and lilting melody would be a great with a bagpipe accompanying.

I knew he was good ... great ... I just didn't know he was THAT good!

La tesora de los EEUU!

And time stops for almost nine minutes...

This is my bard taking 10 on a performance check.

Zero dislikes? Seems about right. =)

DDAD?

Is there a better musician on earth? I don't think so.

An arrangement very reminiscent in the style of the much missed Canadian violinist, Olivor Schroer.

Somebody knows how the fiddle is tuned?

Sounds a lot like piobaireachd!

..... And johnny bowed his head.... 😂😂😂

There aren't accurate enough words.. it's simply something that must be appreciated on a 'soul level' - However, "Amazing" will have to suffice until there are.

Show off!

In Britian, it's played.upbeat, in Ireland, it's a mounful dirge. Opportunitys lost by Napoleons defeat.

Hey all you soft artistes. The Caliphate doesn't allow this!

he usually goes overboard..