I took a chance and played this tonight: the whole thing.
We all know the ending and I'm sure, as some of us enjoy fireworks this weekend, it will be played. I'm pretty sure that many people have never heard the entire Overture and that ending is so much more meaningful after you've made that journey.
It was originally written to celebrate Russia's victory over France (can you say "Borodino"?), but we've used it in the States for many a year, mainly because the French helped us out against the Brits.
It was a stupid and bungled war, and they burnt down the capitol, but jeeze-louise, it's rousing and exciting.
Plus, cannons. You cannot beat that.
Happy Memorial Day.
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