One of Mertz’ folk song arrangements is the Russian song Krasnyĭ sarafan, which translates as the The Red Sarafan. The composer is known as a certain Warlamoff, also known as Alexander Egorovich Varlamov (1801-1848).
A Sarafan is a summer dress that was in use on the Russian countryside. The melody of the song is rather sad and provides some of the atmosphere of the vast Russian plains in which the horizon is far, far away. The melody became popular in the easy-listening genre (you will even find a version with the German band leader and arranger James Last).
The text of the song originates from a poem by Nikolai Ziganoff (1797 – 1831). This poem describes a dialogue between an old mother and her young daughter. Mother advises the daughter to enjoy her youth, because before you realize it is over and you will have wrinkles on your face. That’s why she stitches a red Sarafan for her daughter that is suitable for going out dancing, because that remembers her of her own youth. A melancholic song indeed!