# 1812 Overture **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 17, 2001, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1812-overture/65700 "2001-05-17T06:51:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Weirddave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2001, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1812-overture/65700/1 "2001-05-17T06:51:13Z")
GOD!..What an absolutely beautiful piece of music! If you know the story the music is supposed to tell…it just fits SO DAMN WELL!!! I just listened to the overture again. As is the case every time, I am moved beyond words by this piece. I heard it preformed live by the Aberdeen Proving Grounds band with real live artillery acompanyment a few years ago, it was awsome! I am proud to say I timed it exactly right. I turned and pointed to the artillery EXACTLY as they fired the first salvo. I think it was as close as a musical imbecel like me will come to feeling melded with the music like a conductor or performer. I just wonder… The piece was origionally performed with 400 black powder cannons. 400!!!Y’all have to understand that black powder cannons are LOUD! No, I mean _ **LOUD!!** _ The bombardment preceding Pickett’s charge at Gettysburgh was heard in Baltimore, 70 miles away, for Christ’s sake! Can you imagine the impact of that first volley? I would love to hear it performed that way once, just once… ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2001, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1812-overture/65700/2 "2001-05-17T07:01:16Z")
I was in the orchestra in high school. We played this for our graduation, with a couple of cannons put together by the chemistry department. I still manage to love it anyway… Have you tried PDQ Bach’s 1712 Overture? That’s a good one too. ---
**Author:** ![exchicagoan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/0ea827/32.png) [@exchicagoan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/exchicagoan)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2001, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1812-overture/65700/3 "2001-05-18T06:12:13Z")
The last part—CELEBRATION----with the bells—that TEMPO–fills my heart and makes my soul soar. By the end, with the cannons and all; the hair on my arms is standing up. It touches me to the very depths of my being. Thanks for reminding me. Gonna go play it now.