49. Instrumentation: 2 flutes, piccolo, 2 oboes, English horn, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 4 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, bass drum, cymbals, snare drum, triangle, tambourine, chimes, cannon, timpani, strings. Duration: 16 minutes.

Why does 1812 Overture have cannons?

In 1974, the Boston Pops added cannons, church bells and fireworks to draw crowds to their Independence Day concert. It was so successful that the inclusion of the "1812 Overture" became a staple. ... Five cannon shots are fired in the Battle of Borodino, a turning point in the war.

What is the form of the 1812 Overture?

The 1812 Overture is in the form of a concert overture, which emerged from the opera overture, which was played at the commencement of an opera, to establish the mood. A concert overture is an independent, one movement work often in sonata form.