[Sheet music] The fair land of Poland : ballad from The Bohemian girl

Sheet Music for "The Fair Land Of Poland: Ballad from The Bohemian Girl", composed by Michael William Balfe. This piece of music featured in the opera titled 'The Bohemian Girl'. It is sometimes titled 'When the fair land of Poland' and is performed by Thaddeus, an exiled Polish prince who lived with a gypsy band. The lyrics of the song tell of the love that he has for fought for Poland in the past and the love that he has for the daughter of a count. This copy of the music has been published by W Paxton, London and is believed to date from the 1860s.

Balfe was a baritone singer, composer and violinist who was born in Dublin, Ireland. He first appeared as a violinist at the age of 9 and at the age of 15, moved to London to study violin with C F Horn. His first ballet, La Perouse, was produced in 1825 followed by his first opera, The siege of Rochelle, which was performed at Drury Lane in 1835. His most popular work was 'The Bohemian Girl' which was first performed in 1843. Balfe also spent time living in Paris, Berlin and St Petersburg.

Towards the bottom of this page is a sound recording of this sheet music, or a parody, that was created as part of the Music and the First World War project. More information about this recording, including names of the performers, can be found on the catalogue record for the sound recording. A link to the catalogue record for the sound recording can be found at the bottom of this page, under the heading ‘Related objects’ where it can be identified with the prefix [sound recording].