1812 Overture - Instrumentation

Instrumentation

The 1812 Overture is scored for an orchestra that consists of the following:

• Brass Band1 (finale only)
• Woodwinds: a piccolo, 2 flutes, 2 oboes, an English horn, 2 clarinets in B♭ and 2 bassoons
• Brass: 4 horns in F, 2 cornets in B♭, 2 trumpets in E♭, 3 trombones (2 tenor, 1 bass) and a tuba
• Percussion: timpani, an orchestral bass drum, a snare drum, cymbals, a tambourine, a triangle, a carillon2 and a cannon3
• Strings: first and second violins, violas, violoncellos and double basses

Notes:

1. "Open" instrumentation consisting of "any extra brass instruments" available. In some indoor performances, the part may be played on an organ. Military bands or Marching bands also play this part.

2. Sometimes substituted with tubular bells or recordings of carillons.

3. In the sections in which cannon shots are played, the actual cannon are sometimes replaced by recorded cannon or played on a piece of staging, usually with a large wooden mallet or sledge hammer. The bass drum and tam-tam are also regularly used in indoor performances.