1. Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture

2. Pyotr Ilych Tchaikovsky
Pyotr Tchaikovsky was a Russian Romantic composer who lived His music combines elements of traditional Russian folk music with mainstream Western styles and harmonies. He was the first Russian composer to become popular in the rest of Europe.
Tchaikovsky has a number of works that are still quite popular today including piano and violin concertos, 7 symphonies, his operas Eugene Onegin and The Queen of Spades, and of course his ballets Romeo & Juliet, Swan Lake, and The Nutcracker.

3. Background to 1812 Overture
Tchaikovsky wrote The Overture in 1880 to commemorate Russia’s repulsion of Napoleon’s invading army in 1812.
It was performed outside in Moscow by a symphony joined by a brass band, cannons, and the bells of the nearby cathedral.
The 1812 Overture pretty accurately retells the story of the invasion and ultimate defeat of Napoleon, and uses several pre-existing songs to do so.

4. Napoleon’s Invasion of Russia
In the midst of a series of confusing alliances, forced treaties, and opposing coalitions in Europe, Napoleon invaded Russia in 1812 with a previously-undefeated force of 650,000 battle- hardened men and state-of-the-art artillery.
Realizing that they were severely unprepared for such a conflict, the Russian church authorities declared a day of prayer for the fate of the country. Russians all over the empire offered up heart-felt prayers in the Russian Orthodox churches for divine intervention to save them from the French.
On the outskirts of the empire the Imperial Russian Army engaged Napoleon in skirmishes, but his army continued to move steadily towards the heart of Russia.

6. Napoleon’s Invasion of Russia
Desperately, Tsar Alexander I pleaded with the people of Russia to support the army and save their land. Thousands, from peasants to aristocracy, joined in the cause.
Still, Napoleon’s invincible army pushed forward with victory after victory and eventually captured the heart of Russia, the great city of Moscow.
But just at Napoleon’s triumph, the tides turned. The Russians chose to abandon and burn their great city rather than accept French rule. The peasants refused to bring in food from the fields. An early winter came that made food and supplies scarce. This was seen as an answer to the Russian prayers.

8. Napoleon’s Invasion of Russia
Napoleon found that he had no choice but to abandon the deserted and burned Moscow and retreat back to France.
The remaining Russian armies scorched the earth before the French to make sure they could not forage. They hounded and picked off the many stragglers who suffered from hunger, fatigue, disease, and frostbite. The infamous French cannons’ wheels froze in the snow and were turned by the Russians to fire upon the retreating French. Of the 650,00 originally in his army, Napoleon returned home with only 27,000. (4%)
The Russians celebrated and thanked God for their miraculous victory over Napoleon’s army.

10. “O Lord, Save Thy People”
Tchaikovsky begins the piece with the orchestra softly quoting a sacred church song all Russians would know, The Troparion of the Holy Cross, which is a prayer for Russia and the Tsar. At the end of the overture, this song returns in full power.
What did Tchaikovsky mean by using this song at the beginning and end of this work?
O Lord, save Thy people,
And bless Thine inheritance!
Grant victory to the righteous Tsar
Over his enemies,
And by virtue of Thy cross, Preserve Thy habitation.

11. The Russian Army Theme
The most famous theme of The 1812 Overture represents the brave Russian Army.
Though they were terribly outnumbered and out gunned by Napoleon’s army of over half a million, they dutifully and even gleefully enlisted and prepared to defend the motherland.

12. “La Marseillaise”
The 1812 Overture quotes France’s national anthem “La Marseillaise” to represent the French forces.
Napoleon’s army had superior numbers, discipline, and weapons. After conquering essentially all of Europe (including the Austrian-Hungarian Empire), there was little hope that the Russians could prevent their country from being absorbed into Napoleon’s ever-growing French Empire

13. What do you think Tchaikovsky meant by quoting a folk song?
“At the Gate”
The 1812 Overture also quotes a traditional Russian folk song, “At the Gate” that was sung in villages by peasants.
What do you think Tchaikovsky meant by quoting a folk song?
At the gate, the gate, the gate, gate to father's dear house, Ai, dunai, my dunai, ai, Sing we all dunai

14. Cannons & Bells
The most unique and recognizable feature of The 1812 Overture is its use of real cannons and city bells.
The cannons, of course, represent the force of the battle. The bells, wildly ringing near the end, represent the joyous celebration of the Russian people for their victory over the invading French.
Near the end, the cannon shots musically “blow holes” through the French national anthem. ☺

15. “God Save the Tsar”
At the very end of the piece, a military brass band blasts out the “Russian Army” theme.
To this celebration of Russian victory and sovereignty, Tchaikovsky adds what was then the Russian national anthem by the low instruments in counter-point. (plus more cannons and bells)
"God Protect the Tsar, He who holds power; Reign for glory, for our glory. Reign to the terror of our enemies, Orthodox Tsar! God Protect the Tsar!

16. The 1812 Overture
Try to follow the “story” as we listen to Tchaikovsky’s rendition of Russia’s mortal battle with Napoleon in 1812.