Farewell Song has been taken from Der Trompeter
von Säckingen by Victor E. Nessler (1841-1890). This
opera tells the sentimental story of a plain musician
who is eventually allowed to marry the daughter of
a baron. From the first performance in 1884, this
opera was well liked – not so much because of the
story but because of its musical features. Impressive
trumpet solos, drinking songs and dance scenes were
the ingredients that enthralled audiences throughout
Europe. Today, only the farewell song called Jung
Werner’s Abschied, also known as Behüt’ dich Gott,
has remained an absolute winner. Wil van der Beek
has written a fine arrangement of this entitled
Farewell Song. He felt it was appropriate to entrust
the melody of this song, originally written for tenor
voice, to the baritone or euphonium.