1812 Overture

The 1812 Overture (full title: Festival Overture "The Year 1812" in E flat major, Op. 49; French: Ouverture solennelle 1812) is an orchestral overture by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, used as the opening for Pushkin's celebrated comedy 1812 which centers on Napoleon's failed invasion of Russia. The work is best known for the sequence of cannon fire, which is sometimes performed, especially at outside festivals, using one or more actual cannons. When performed indoors, computer-generated cannon sounds or huge barrel drums are used instead. Although the composition has no historical connection with the US-UK War of 1812, in the United States it is often performed alongside other patriotic music; it is a staple at Fourth of July celebrations. This work is one of fewer than ten works that use guns and cannons in their score, and is one of the few that call for a carillon.
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