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Tchaikovsky
So Fourth of July is coming and we will all hear both the Capitol Fourth celebration and the Boston Pops play the final themes of the 1812 Overture on national television just prior to the fireworks.
Why the 1812?
Well it’s got cannon blasts - great for outdoors!
Playing this particular piece on the 4th of July just makes me wonder, given the current state of our educational system, how many of those celebrating realize that the Overture has nothing to do with the War of 1812. Yes we fought the Brits in 1812 but the Overture does not lionize Dolly Madison fleeing the White House with George Washington’s portrait.
The Overture written by Tchaikovsky is as thoroughly a Russian a piece of music as there is - written by a Russian, commemorating the Russian victory over Napoleon’s Grand Armee commencing at the Battle of Borodino in 1812, first performed in Moscow at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in August 1882, finishing up with the Tsarist anthem to the Romanovs, "God Save the Tsar", the national anthem of the Russian Empire until 1917.
It was also played and conducted by Tchaikovsky at the dedication of Carnegie Hall in New York in 1891.
Now don’t get me wrong. I like the 1812 and my comments concerning playing it as the centerpiece of our July 4 celebrations are not based on the fact that it was written by a Russian. We’re Americans here and we will happily steal anyone’s music.
The Overture however commemorates a Russian historical event and more importantly is a kiss-up to Tsarism - a fault I find decidedly undemocratic and unsuitable for July 4 celebrations. Tchaikovsky was a notorious kiss-up to the Tsar; its how he made his living.
So why do we play it on July 4th? Because it has cannons? Got me.
Next time you hear the cannons and see the fireworks go off and you hear that theme at the end you love so much don’t think about Independence Day - think of the Tsar: I'm sure he would be laughing his ass off to hear his "Hail to the Chief" at our July 4 celebration.
Don't mind me. I'm just a crank. Just ignore me.
Crack open an American beer and celebrate.
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Jonathan Wolfman
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Comments
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwrqAipON2w
Great post.
But your point about its origin is quite right. It had nothing to do with the recent hostilities between the US and Britain/Canada. That conflict, however, produced the equally stirring words of "The Star Spangled Banner" (ironically set to the music of a British drinking song).
I too have never understood why this is always played. Maybe everyone needs to go back to Music Appreciation class!
America the Beautiful always seemed like a more likely candidate to be played while the fireworks were in their finale. Or for God's sake. The Star Spangled Banner of all things!
I've played both these tunes at more fireworks shows than I can count. Once in an orchestra and several times in concert bands. There's a nice clarinet passage in both, so they make me happy and I keep my mouth shut.
I'm not sure when this association with fireworks shows and the 1812 O started, but after generations of the Boston Pops, we are stuck with it. BTW, most parks forbid explosive devices.
For my two cents, Orchestra arrangements of Stars and Stripes suck as much or more than band arrangements of the 1812 Overture. It sounds wimpy, and that is not was Sousa was thinking when he legally changed his last name to end in USA, and claimed Divine Inspiration for this march. The Sousa arrangement has just a little of that crazyness in it.
Like this; http://youtu.be/a-7XWhyvIpE
BTW, you will never again hear 4 piccolos in unison like this, unbelievable.
In a band concert a few years ago, I saw a very old manin the audience get so worked up during Stars and Stripes that he broke his walking frame banging it to the beat (his tennis ball things flew off). One of the few times I was sure we were "doing it right".
Holst's Second Suite for Military Band is my favorite piece to play.
http://youtu.be/7nz7tvRdL94
Rated.
Damn Rooskies! Our biggest enemy! (Mitt says so.)
"Why we playing that Rooksie music on our Sacred Fourth!
:-)
It is played at 4th of July celebrations as a reminiscence of the time before the megacorporations, when it was possible for a small company like Quaker to compete against giants like Kellogg's and Post in the national marketplace. That is the spirit of independence that used to exist in America, and we miss it very much.
The fireworks and the 1812 are really for "Hail to the Oats!".
:-)
;-)
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