1812 Overture, Op. 49

Among the most frequently performed and well-known of P. I. Tchaikovsky’s (1840-1893) works, The Year 1812, Solemn Overture, Op. 49 (more commonly known as the 1812 Overture) was written in 1880 to commemorate the 1812 defeat of Napoleon’s invading French army by the Russians. Despite the composer’s lack of enthusiasm about the project at its inception, claiming that he “wrote it without any warm and loving feelings,” Tchaikovsky acknowledged later that he did well in its composition, saying “I absolutely do not know whether my overture (“The Year 1812″) is good or bad, but I rather think it is the former (pardon my immodesty).” It premiered on August 20, 1882, in Moscow at the Art & Industry Exhibition, Ippolit Altani conducting. Famous for its use of cannons in the Finale, the Finale also calls for the inclusion of a military brass band, which is labelled as “open” instrumentation in the original. This edition by Martin Schmeling spells out specific instrumentation options for the banda. Instrumentation: 2+Picc.2+EH.2.2: 4.2+2.3.1: Timp.Perc(5-6): Str (9-8-7-6-5 in set): Banda ad lib [0.0.0.0: 4.2.2.2: Perc(3-4)].