The Overture of 1812

The Overture of 1812 is telling the story of Napoleon’s struggles in leading his troops to battle against the French. The cold weather and larger numbers of the opposition ruined their chances of defeat. In the piece, I believe it is interpreted that Napoleon did win the battle, when in reality, he did not.

The Overture of 1812 is an amazing work by Tchaikovsky. The beginning of the overture starts

out with a sort of melancholy tone, signifying either an end to something tragic or even a beginning to something that is also sad. It then takes a few lighter notes, which almost intensify the sadness. Afterward, a more adventurous and frightening tone comes over the piece. Something you would expect at the climax of an old war movie, or a scene where someone is hiding from someone else and is about to be found: it puts you on edge. The tone of the piece then changes completely and becomes more familiar with notes that people recognize. The tone is almost valiance as we thin about a cavalry coming into battle. It then takes on that anxious, fast tone from the beginning once again and made me picture a brigade in the main part of a battle. The brass in the background really intensifies the war and army feelings that we get—the tones of nobility and honor. It then shifts into a bittersweet, light, lovely tone that brings on a feeling of love and happiness—almost the picture af a ball forms in my head during this portion. Once again, it then shifts into a seemingly spooky tone once again with an edge of war and valiance to it. Listening to it, I picture soldiers on horses, seeking out their opposition. It becomes very fast and anxious and we worry for what isn’t even there. But it then once again, becomes a victorious tone almost signaling that the piece is coming to a close. In the piece I listened to, bells are ringing out, the musicians are reaching their peek of excellence, and you can almost hear the cannons firing, showing that the “good guys” have been victorious.