Uploaded February 2020 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
We present for you a piece of music probably not heard for over 200 years. Found in the British Library, this music was written by Jane Austen's music teacher, George William Chard to celebrate the military successes of Field Marshal Suvarov (known then in Britain as Suwarrow) during the Napoleonic Wars. Chard wrote and published this music just before Jane Austen left Steventon to go to live in Bath, bringing her music lessons with him to an end.
In 1799, (not 1796 as Chris excitedly says) at the highlight of an illustrious career, Suvorov was given command of the Austro-Russian army and sent to drive France's forces out of Italy.
Suvorov and Napoleon never met in battle because Napoleon was campaigning in Egypt at the time. However, Suvorov erased practically all of the gains Napoleon had made for France during 1796 and 1797, defeating some of the republic's top generals, afterwards being ordered to join other armies in Switzerland and carrying out a masterful strategic withdrawal across the Alps. His military theories and strategy are still influential - one of them even becoming a Russian Proverb - "Train hard, fight easy" Many Military academies are still named after him and The Order of Suvarov is still a medal awarded for bravery by serving Russian soldiers.
He was feted in Britain for his achievements, even being mentioned by a French character in a pantomime:
Ah, malheureux! ah miserable Moreau! [a French General of the time]
Sir Sidney here; in Italy Suwarrow!
We present for you a piece of music probably not heard for over 200 years. Found in the British Library, this music was written by Jane Austen's music teacher, George William Chard to celebrate the military successes of Field Marshal Suvarov (known then in Britain as Suwarrow) during the Napoleonic Wars. Chard wrote and published this music just before Jane Austen left Steventon to go to live in Bath, bringing her music lessons with him to an end.
In 1799, (not 1796 as Chris excitedly says) at the highlight of an illustrious career, Suvorov was given command of the Austro-Russian army and sent to drive France's forces out of Italy.
Suvorov and Napoleon never met in battle because Napoleon was campaigning in Egypt at the time. However, Suvorov erased practically all of the gains Napoleon had made for France during 1796 and 1797, defeating some of the republic's top generals, afterwards being ordered to join other armies in Switzerland and carrying out a masterful strategic withdrawal across the Alps. His military theories and strategy are still influential - one of them even becoming a Russian Proverb - "Train hard, fight easy" Many Military academies are still named after him and The Order of Suvarov is still a medal awarded for bravery by serving Russian soldiers.
He was feted in Britain for his achievements, even being mentioned by a French character in a pantomime:
Ah, malheureux! ah miserable Moreau! [a French General of the time]
Sir Sidney here; in Italy Suwarrow!
