Overtures!

This seamless medley of the most popular overture themes from the Classical and Romantic periods—a veritable music history listening lesson—will be a sure-fire hit on any concert program. Scored in D-major throughout, the grade 3 arrangement by Douglas E. Wagner presents many teachable moments with style, balance, dynamic control, articulation, and interpretation. In order of appearance, the themes included are: “1812 Festival Overture” (Largo) by Tchaikovsky; Overture to Zampa by Herold; Overture to The Barber of Seville by Rossini; Overture to The Magic Flute by Mozart; Overture to The Marriage of Figaro by Mozart; Overture to Poet and Peasant by von Suppé; Overture to The Merry Wives of Windsor by Nicolai; Overture to William Tell by Rossini; Overture to Die Meistersinger by Wagner; Overture to Light Cavalry by von Suppé; Overture to Orpheus in the Underworld by Offenbach; “Academic Festival Overture,” by Brahms; and “1812 Festival Overture” (Allegro vivace) by Tchaikovsky. (3:30)