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The Beresina song – Variations for flute solo

Helene Schulthess, Querflöte, Beresinalied

The Beresina song
Song and Variations for flute solo 

The Beresina song
Song and Variations for flute solo

Our life is like a journey
The Beresina Song

The sheet music is available as a PDF for CHF 20. Dispatch by email.

Helene Schulthess, Querflöte, Beresina

Lyrics: Ludwig Giseke (1756–1832)
Melody: Johann Immanuel Müller (1774–1839)

Lyrics

1. Our life is like the journey
Of a traveller in the night;
Everyone has in his track
Something that troubles him.

2. But unexpectedly
Before us night and darkness,
And the weighed down one finds
Relief in his sorrow.

3. Courageous, courageous, dear brothers,
Give up your anxious worries;
Tomorrow the sun will rise again
Kindly in the sky again.

4. Therefore let us go on;
Do not flinch in despair!
Beyond those distant heights
Happiness still awaits us.

According to tradition, Thomas Legler from Glarus, then a grenadier lieutenant in French service, sang this song at dawn on 28 November 1812 with his comrades shortly before the outbreak of the Battle of the Berezina. This song later became a popular favourite under the name ‘Beresinalied’.

The Beresina Song still reminds us today of the battle that took place 200 years ago on the Berezina River in what is now Belarus. In November 1812, four Swiss regiments, who had to march to Russia with Napoleon, played a decisive role in covering the retreat of the defeated army across the Berezina River. Of the original 9,000 Swiss, only around 350 returned alive. Napoleon's Russian campaign, the last battle of which took place on the Berezina, was the greatest man-made disaster of its time.

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