Music with Ease > Classical Music > Concert Guide: Romantic Era > Overture, "The Jubilee"

It was during his directorship of the opera at Dresden in 1818 that Weber was commissioned to compose a cantata in honor of the fiftieth anniversary of the accession to the throne of the King of Saxony. He wrote the cantata called "The Jubilee" in eleven days, but owing to Italian cabals against him it was not performed on that occasion. When Weber found it was not be given, he wrote the overture known as "The Jubilee," which is entirely distinct from the cantata. It opens with a bold and striking Adagio, in which a passage for the basses leads to the principal movement. After the development of the first theme, which is taken fortissimo in full orchestra, an episode leads to the second theme, a light dance rhythm. This theme is developed at considerable length and leads to the free fantasia. In the concluding section the opening themes are repeated. After further development the first subject repeats, and the violins finally lead to a vigorous intonation of the national anthem, "Heil dir im Siegerkranz," which is played fortissimo by the wind instruments with string accompaniment.