About the Music

The Russian composer Pyotr IIyich Tchaikovsky, also known as Peter IIyich Tchaikovsky composed the Overture of 1812 in the year 1880. It commemorated the defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte by the Russian armies.

It is a majestic piece, complete with canon fire, and ringing church bells.

In 1891, Tchaikovsky made an appearance as a guest conductor at the inaugural concert of Carnegie Hall in the city of New York.

Although this particular, beautiful overture has nothing to do with the 4th of July, it has become a most popular piece for the celebration of this day in the United States.