Tonight, we are going to hear the Nashville Symphony play a rousing concert of patriotism. All kinds of American composers will be featured, but the finale will be Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture. Unfortunately, that piece of music has nothing to do with American patriotism. A lot of people think it commemorates the War of 1812 between the United States and Great Britain. Actually, it celebrates Russia’s defense against Napoleon in that year.
Anyway, it has become a staple for symphonies around the Fourth of July.
Soon, I will have to start getting ready for our sojourn into the big city. With that in mind, I leave you with a set list from my crazy iPod. It may not be patriotic, but it will be rousing.
“It’s Been a Long Time” by New Birth
“Tender Years” by John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band
“Why Can’t He Be You” by Loretta Lynn
“Mandolin Wind” by Rod Stewart
“My Old School” by Steely Dan
“Maybe” by The Chantels
“You’re Gonna Break My Heart Again” by Whitesnake
“Fake Plastic Trees” by Radiohead
“Daddy Frank” by Merle Haggard
“The Monkey Song” by Stacey Mitchhart
“Fantastic Voyage” by Lakeside
“Lyin’ Eyes” by The Eagles
“Looking for a Rainbow” by Chris Rea
“Chains of Love” by Big Joe Turner
“Longhaired Redneck” by David Allan Coe
“Tush” by ZZ Top
“The Last Pale Light in the West” by Ben Nichols
“Pinball Machine” by Lonnie Irving
“Little Red Rooster” by Big Mama Thornton
“Runaway” by Del Shannon
Now, I am to prepare for the symphony and that long-haired music.
SBI: A Thinning Crowd 
Of COURSE it’s the biggie on the fourth. It’s the only symphony in which you can fire off real cannons! BOOM! BANG! Smoke everywhere. How cool is that? It’s been the centerpiece of the celebration in Boston for … geez … ever?
The only other song that I know to have cannons is “For Those About to Rock” by AC/DC. That one is probably not patriotic enough for the Fourth of July.
It’s only the cannons that matter. When I was a music major, someone asked one of my fellow students what was his favorite instrument and he answered “Cannons.”
“Canons? Like Bach?” queried our professor.
“No,” said Lloyd. “Cannons, like in BOOM. Y’know, 1812 Overture?”
“Okay, then.” And we all moved on.
I want to borrow you iPod some day. Sure “For Those About to Rock” is a patriotic song.
It can be borrowed. It has a life of its own. If “For Those About to Rock” doesn’t fire someone up, then I don’t know what will.
This is interesting about 1812 – that people think of it as a commemoration of an American war. That Tchaikovsky piece was one of the earliest Western Classical pieces that I heard. It came up as a part of a Saturday friends group discussion on Napoleon. The drama and the cannon fire rather appealed to us then.
I was going to say exactly the same thing!
You’d think “The Marseillaise” that’s woven through the music might give everyone a clue about its origin. If you are listening at all, it’s impossible to miss. Last I knew, that was the national anthem of France.
That would be a clue, but how many people know that’s the national anthem of France? It probably sounds familiar to them, but they don’t know why.
Anyone who has seen “Casablanca” or taken French in school???
I understand. However, how many people have seen Casablanca?
Too few, apparently.
I think we sometimes give people more credit than they deserve. I may write a post about it.
It is interesting. I’m just glad that people know there was a War of 1812.
An interesting little squabble. Historians can’t even agree who won and lost!
That’s because nobody gained anything.
Technically, we won because we are still here, but really, we kind of got whupped by the Brits. If they hadn’t packed up their marbles and gone home (they had their own problems across the pond) …
It shows how American-centric people around here think. It must be about something that happened here.
I think it’s a global trait. e.g. we in India hail and seize ownership of anyone that is in the news who has the faintest hint of Indian ancestry even if that person (maybe even his parents and their’s before them) were born in a different country and is for all purposes influenced by that nation’s culture.
But what you mentioned about 1812 is new to me and interesting. Will do some reading on that. Wish you a very happy Independence Day, even if it comes a little early!
Thank you very much. It is also the weekend of my first anniversary. Big celebrations ahead.
Oh! Wish you both a very happy anniversary!
Apropos to my earlier comment, what I meant by ‘new and interesting’ about 1812 is the American part of it.