4th of July 1812 Overture

[LLMorse1]

No. Ran, you were not. Last weekend the gold market on sat stopped at 1776. This weekend is it at 1812.

Perhaps, it's time.

[elfhearse]

Thank You Charlie Smithgall..

[marygny]

LOS GRINGOS Y SU IGNORANCIA. ESTO CELEBRA EL TRIUNFO DE RISSIA SOBRE NAPOLEON. 

[DenverCholoX3]

Who's here from cracked?

[Svechka]

Gosh, I am so proud to be Russian, proud for the great victory of my ancestors! Tchaikovsky, thank you for making me feel this way!! :)

[thewabbiteer]

Uploader - You forgot to add commentary and singing by Homer SImpson - Awesome piece of work.

[Tommy81967]

Very good as usual. Nice to see this on YouTube. Wonder if they're still using flash bulbs to fire them like they did years ago?

[modernhumanity]

I always crack up when the audience freak out over the first canon blast because they don't have a warning

[ItsMeLegit]

@tankcommander94 I hope you are joking

[tankcommander94]

@ItsMeLegit 1812 Overture isnt even related to America. Its Russia victory over the French. France helped America way more than America helped France. You yanks are always quick off the mark when criticizing the help of Europeans because we are supposedly 'inferior'. WE founded you, we moulded you into a European nation with Democracy. The British owned the French so it dosn't really matter. Without the French, America would still be a British colony!

[ItsMeLegit]

@tankcommander94 Everybody knows this piece is Russian, I know why it was written, everybody does. Ummm you didn't found us... What history book are you looking at? "France helped America way more than America helped France" What the hell are you smoking dude? You've never heard of WWI? WW2? Saving France from German occupation twice? Europe did not found America or turn it into a democracy, I just don't understand where you are pulling this shit from.

[tankcommander94]

@ItsMeLegit Ok, your obviously special in the head so lets break down into to bite size chunks for a baby such as yourself. Who founded North America?? i.e. started up colonies? What language do you speak is a good example, I believe its English. If there where no Europeans how come you speak English? Secondly you failed to protect France didnt you. You enter the war late and claim victory! WW2 you couldnt be assed to help your supposed allies because 'mom' and her apple pie where too precious!!

[ItsMeLegit]

@tankcommander94 Britain founded America as a colony, not as an independent country dumbass. Britain didn't want us to become independent, I just don't understand what the hell you are talking about. --

1. Europe didn't found North America(its a continent, haha) --

2. Many countries speak English, Nobody has the right to own a language --

3. We didn't have to join WW1 or 2, we chose to, when France and the rest of Europe was getting their asses kicked.--

4. Your Grammar is terrible

[tankcommander94]

@ItsMeLegit Who set up the colonies?? You speak English because we owned you and your people. You where us once, now your just some rebellious, arrogant lowlifes (Vast Minority). Getting their asses kicked, your just one of them stereotypical Americans who believe they own the world. 'Without us you would be German' and all that shit. Keep your lies and arrogance to yourself and you're diseased family!

[ItsMeLegit]

@tankcommander94 Ok so when WW3 breaks out you can stay on France's side and I'll stay on Americas side. And then we will see who's right.

[TatersChoice]

@ItsMeLegit @tankcommander94 Let's break up the slapfight, ladies. This song has nothing to do with America or England. It's a Russian song.

[KarenL1956]

oh gosh i am so fuggin homesick...

[wasteofspace1234]

can you imagine if it was common knowledge in the cold war that this is actually a russian victory song, played on the American national day? =0

[cwood4ever]

It is common knowledge. Its a cool song, why cant it be played?

[tailsfan13]

AWESOME!! But don't take umgrage to this but the cannons were slightly out....well unless the ones on my recording are out :S

[tchandler29]

On his 1891 visit to the United States, Tchaikovsky conducted the piece at the dedication of Carnegie Hall in New York City. While this piece has no connection with United States history, it is often a staple at Fourth of July celebrations, such as the annual show by the Boston Pops and at Washington, DC's, annual program called A Capitol Fourth.

[heorap]

not to sound like a bitter old guy, but I've always found it funny that this song gets used on the 4th. It has NOTHING to do with the United States.

[Fittykent]

Needs more cowbell

[Shangas]

lol!

[oceanmuseq]

Lancaster's "concussion section" is always right on the rhythm mark !  Love it!!!

[thecarrotdude]

you can hear some of them scream when the cannons happen

[thecarrotdude]

most of the hicks there didnt know it had cannoncs

[GaullistFan]

learn how to spell

[WIStarcraft]

This appears to be the only video on here where the guys firing the cannons fire at the moment when they should. Is it that friggin' hard??? Every other video on here they just shoot it off randomly and it throws the originality out the window. As far as the music being used on the 4th of July, I think we like it because it's the only song that can relate to "blowing shit up". LOL

[DellusMaximus]

True. This is the first one I've come across where the cannons were fired on time. How hard could it be to fire a few lousy cannons on time?

[pilotlim]

Actually if you've seen the music score, its a teeny bit off, but cannons are awfully hard to fire on time aren't they?

[Dragonx0562]

it can be, gun crews have to actually work hard to keep on time with the music. The cannoneers here had their stuff together...

[Popgapon]

The irony is in the 2-nd part of an overture, where the orchestra plays the Russian imperial anthem of "God save the tzar". They say, that this hymn comes directly from the english "God save the queen". If it's truth, it is funny to celebrate the victory over England with their own anthem.

In fact, i'm as russian, very happy with the fact, that this music became the symbol of american victory.

[Vel1al]

Russian Empire was first who acknowledged USA the independent state=) That's why may be u can see how Russian music uses on the 4th july=)

[brokk2]

'cmon... you americans like it just because is solemn and "huge",,, this piece of music is a mix of the French and Russian anthem!

USA has NOTHING to share with this, as this music was written by Tchaikovsky (or how the hell is his name XD) to celebrate Napoleon's defeat in 1812 (strange... "ouverture 1812")!!!

[Vel1al]

I'm not american =) I'm russian)

[pwbpub]

I was there!

[RANDOMNAMEISRANDOMQQ]

Wow, am I the only one who realizes that the 1812 Overture was written to celebrate a Russian victory over Napoleon, and has absolutely nothing to do with American history?

[dunn1323]

yeah youre right.

A lot of people think tchaikovsky wrote this because of the War of 1812 between America and Great Britain, but they are unrelated and I don't know why this song is always played on the 4th.

[UserDirk580]

Most people don't know about the War of 1812 :/

[nshabsfan4life]

@RANDOMNAMEISRANDOMQQ Ahh, no, you are not the only one.

[wtfidascrappy]

@RANDOMNAMEISRANDOMQQ you are not alone:).

its made by tchaikovsky for the victory of russia against napoleon the 3th

[Agomongo1235]

@RANDOMNAMEISRANDOMQQ yeah so?

[SupraJulie]

@RANDOMNAMEISRANDOMQQ Yea, but it sounds awesome when you used canons as the percussion... So when you have a town that has an amphitheater where a guy lives who has a giant collection of canons... There's really only one thing to do for your 4th of July concert finale.

[chrisjako]

that first ones the best :)

[JcamaroE]

going to longs park every year for the fireworks is awesome. those cannons are so cool. when they go off it feels like someone hit you in the chest. its soo cool. if you have never gone you really should consider it next year

[Slicerer]

i would like to see them do it with full sized, modern day Howittzers. That is unless all you would hear after the shot is just ringing in your ear, cuz u just went deaf.

[nepssis]

Russian music for an American holiday. Funny!!!

[grazon]

In American we are all from somewhere else.

[Uzumaki101Naruto]

I started cracking up when I realized that the camera guy was humming. XD I don't know why.

I played this during Summer Band Camp. Dear God, my fingers ached and my lips were dead and we skipped like half of it so it ended up being about a minute long.

But we didn't have fireworks... We were indoors. :\ Pssh, whatever. They didn't even have the cymbals crash after the "Dadadadada da da daaa" There's suppose to be a BOOM! after that!

[Dawnofwar13]

i knew this would be on youtube . i go every year to long's park they have great fire works they onlything is this year they shortened it the cannons usually go off twice as much

[charliecatheline]

very original!!! Fantastic!!!

[klipsch21]

i find it kinda funny that many americans dont kno that this was a russian composition, if they played this during the cold war it would've been ironic

[victorbbv]

Its beautyful!!! i love 1812 overture... just imagine the russians fighting and defeating napoleon....... its awsome!!!

[firestar1500]

kool they should have started at the beginning of the song, not the middle.

[ddeejay]

In my opinion the cannons detracted from the actual song

[daveythewavey19]

they are part of the song, it's in the score.

[NnFfBb]

Don't forget the church bells he wrote for as well.

[Crusnik2000]

Yes the cannons are a part of the song they represent the battle that stoped Napoleon's invasin and sent him packing without them the music is not as powerful

[PeanutButterGoodness]

I like how when the cannons go off the music dies down, like it's deafening the camera or something.

[daveythewavey19]

it's the shockwave pushing the sound away

[LetsGo6009]

I love how the first shot scares everybody, lol. those things are so dam loud in real life. it would of been really cool to see it live

[Aquablue33]

*damned

[BFG12043]

Best part of the overture in my opinion but then again the whole piece is awesome, thunbs up!☺

[bradhorn14]

wow....congrats on firing that napleon right on time....not easy...congrat..lol

[yeoldesammy81]

that would have been fun to see that live

[PeanutButterGoodness]

All that smoke... It's gotta smell wonderful over there. Black powder smells alot better than the new stuff they use.

[AuntieAnneS]

it sure dose

[Aquablue33]

*does

[timii85]

tchaikovsky's overture was written to celebrate russia's defeat of napoleon in 1812 and to my mind has nothing to do with america. why americans identify themselves with this song is beyond me.

[PeanutButterGoodness]

Cause its a cool song with guns, and Americans like to celebrate stuff thats cool, especially if guns are involved.

[idiot9111111]

lol

[thatonekid666999]

lol how extremley true. this song has absolutley nothing to do with america but you all love it so much anyway

[Ryder77]

'Cause the War of 1812 that took place over here. Not everyone knows its about Russia and just assume its about America.

[paulgallagher13]

Why cant Ireland have an anthem like this....

[jglsd1]

God, those cannons are so badass.

[minchionecolbaffo]

wow!

[88keysinarow]

lol

[jkw5030]

This is a tradition in my family for 20 years now to go out to Long's Park from 7AM on...my uncle, brother, and myself...we count down to this every year...it's like Christmas. It's one of the most unique experiences in the world to be here in person. Thank goodness for the Lancaster Symphony Orchestra and Charlie Smithgall's cannons!!!

[ESRRX]

Nothing to do with nationalism, the music just is very good, thats why it is played at events all over the world.

[apres]

I live right near the park and always miss this.

[Robotman42]

That's a lot of smoke :O

[lamnaa]

Nationlisitc? Its about beating france and we can all enjoy that.

[BismarcksOtto]

Indeed! XD

[brandonh12345]

actually its about an attack from napoleon in russia or sumwhere over there...nothin 2 do with america beating france

[Presidentjh]

amen

[brokk2]

What better way to celebrate America than with a piece of Russian nationalistic music! Why don't you play also the "Aida"?

[aranarthspanish]

lol, so true.

[roydk06]

That was great. Thanks for sharing this. Wow!

[mgmiller3891]

That was awesome I was there. I thought they had the cannons in sync pretty well. Those cannons are set off by a control panel on the stage, they were not set off manually as you would think. All in all, it was a great show.

[picklefiend]

Wish I was there.

[Emaldonadopr]

correction... those were 3 155thmm artillery cannons and not 158th, sorry I am typing to fast...

[Emaldonadopr]

Oh I still remember 19 November 1993, at 12 midnight, we were at the end of 500 years of Puerto Rico celebration when the Symphonic was playing the overture 1812,, the Puerto Rico Army National Fires at sequence 3, 158th mm Cannons that were hidden behind The San Felipe El Morro Castle to the Old San Juan bay, and before the music ended the National Guard fires the 21 Cannon Salute to the Nation.

[molder69]

what a fantastic final. a lot of power

[TheTaowarrior]

I saw this at this same park years ago as a kid.

Pretty awesome! thanks for bringing back the memories, I had to show my kids too. Let them know where their dad got his sense of "culture" from.

[WIStarcraft]

When the first shot is fired, everyone on the lower left jumps. Funny....

[BlindIo42]

You've never seen it until you've seen it with 155mm Howitzers fired by the US Army.

One of the best memories of my childhood.

[box778899]

YES!!! I seen them play it once!! It was unbelieveable.

[Emaldonadopr]

O yes I saw it... that was great. hoooaaahhh!!

[wmier2]

I love it! I love it! Can't beat the final of the 1812 Overture!

[PeanutButterGoodness]

Its cool just that they did it. The piece was originally played with loaded cannons for the final percussions.

[motorbreath22]

sound takes time to travel thats why it sounds out of sync

[Gruppob]

Ironic Russian patriotic piece plyed at for American independance day.

[robbpeppertree]

Your grammar is terrible, but I agree with what I think you are trying to say.

[Gruppob]

Drunk post honestly =) English is my native tongue.

[CeJoJa]

Oh God, I played that once in a wind orchestra!

It's so cool!

I love that music! :D

[Sapwood2]

Yeah, but how could you time fireworks perfectly?

[FuriousGopher]

Good, but it wasn't timed perfectly; Could've been better

[PsychoMantis87]

That was awsome!!! and it was timed perfectly. I gotta start goin to better 4th of july parties.