This popular classical piece was composed in 1880 in a little over a month for a ceremonial occasion commemorating the country's victory in a war earlier in the 19th century. Its composer didn't think much of it and described it simply as "Very loud and noisy".
a. Wagner's "Ride of the Valkyries" from Die Walkure
b. Beethoven's Fifth Symphony
c. Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture"
d. Strauss' "Dance of the Seven Veils" from "Salome"
The answer is C, Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture"!
The Year 1812, Festival Overture in E flat major, Op. 49, popularly known as the 1812 Overture, is an overture written by Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky to commemorate Russia's defense of Moscow against Napoleon's advancing Grande Armée at the Battle of Borodino in 1812. The overture debuted in the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow on August 20, 1882, in the Gregorian or NS calendar (the date in the Julian or OS calendar was August 8). The overture is best known for its climactic volley of cannon fire and ringing chimes. Sixteen cannon shots are written into the score of the Overture; logistics of safety and precision in placement of the shots require either well-drilled military crews using modern cannon, or else the use of sixteen pieces of muzzle-loading artillery, since any reloading schemes to attain the sixteen shots or even a semblance of them in the two minute time span involved makes safety and precision impossible with 1800s artillery. Time lag alone precludes implementation of cues for the shots for 1812-era field pieces.
a. Wagner's "Ride of the Valkyries" from Die Walkure
b. Beethoven's Fifth Symphony
c. Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture"
d. Strauss' "Dance of the Seven Veils" from "Salome"
The answer is C, Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture"!
The Year 1812, Festival Overture in E flat major, Op. 49, popularly known as the 1812 Overture, is an overture written by Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky to commemorate Russia's defense of Moscow against Napoleon's advancing Grande Armée at the Battle of Borodino in 1812. The overture debuted in the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow on August 20, 1882, in the Gregorian or NS calendar (the date in the Julian or OS calendar was August 8). The overture is best known for its climactic volley of cannon fire and ringing chimes. Sixteen cannon shots are written into the score of the Overture; logistics of safety and precision in placement of the shots require either well-drilled military crews using modern cannon, or else the use of sixteen pieces of muzzle-loading artillery, since any reloading schemes to attain the sixteen shots or even a semblance of them in the two minute time span involved makes safety and precision impossible with 1800s artillery. Time lag alone precludes implementation of cues for the shots for 1812-era field pieces.
Stay curious,
Team ARC
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