Björneborgarnas marsch

Details

Description

Björneborgarnas marsch (‘March of the Björneborgers' or 'March of the Pori Regiment') is a Swedish military march from the 18th century. Today, it is mainly performed in Finland and has served as the honorary march of the Finnish Defence Forces since 1918. Following Sweden's defeat to Russia in the Finnish War of 1808–1809, her eastern lands formed the Russian-controlled Grand Duchy of Finland. The original melody of Björneborgarnas marsch is most likely French in origin, and was composed by an unknown composer in the 18th century.

The march remained popular throughout the 19th century in both Sweden and Finland. The original text was published in Swedish in 1860 by the Finnish national poet Johan Ludvig Runeberg in his epic poem The Tales of Ensign Stål. The most commonly used Finnish translation was written by Paavo Cajander in 1889, along with Cajander's translation of The Tales of Ensign Stål. The name of the march refers to the Björneborg regiment (Pori in Finnish) of the Swedish army.

Björneborgarnas marsch today serves as the honorary march of the Finnish Defence Forces and is played (only rarely sung) for the Commander-in-Chief, i.e. the President of Finland. As Finland and Estonia share similarities in their languages, culture and also through their respective military traditions, it is also the Estonian Defence Forces' official honorary march, played for the Commander of the Estonian Defence Forces. Since 1948, the Finnish national broadcast company Yleisradio has played Björneborgarnas marsch played on radio or television every time a Finnish athlete wins a gold medal in the Olympic games.

Björneborgarnas marsch by unknown
Arr S Schultz