Gintz ignored: On with the Revolution!

Title: “1812 Overture”: Finale

Composer: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

The finale of Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture illustrates the start of the revolution, particularly with regard to Commissar Gintz. The beginning of the finale starts with a buildup of the emotion and power of the music, reflecting Gintz’s speech in the town square of Melyuzeyevo. He has been sent by the White Army, or in other words, by the Czar supporters to chastise Malyuzeyevo for their disorganization and for letting themselves be so affected by the Bolsheviks. He begins with much momentum, but just as the energy of the piece slows, almost to a halt, so too, the momentum of his speech loses favor with the people of the town. As bells begin to sound in the finale, so too, during Gintz’s speech, “The crowd began to heckle.” He lost most support for this speech in this instance, but it was not the only time.

Later in the chapter, Gintz takes the Cossacks to the town of Zybushino. This same piece can be used once more to represent this encounter as well. He has arrived to take prisoner or punish the rebels of Zybushino and deserters of the army. He gives a lofty speech about the duties of soldiers, the importance of their motherland, and other topics, but there were no sympathizers in this crowd. The Cossacks even begin to abandon him, sheathing their swords and dismounting from their horses.

He makes one last attempt to grab their attention, jumping on to a water barrel to address the indifferent or hostile members of the crowd. As he spoke, he stepped forward and fell into the barrel, with one leg awkwardly sticking out of the barrel. With this, the Revolution “explodes” just as the piece once again explodes into its grand finale, with the deep drums imitating such an explosion. Gintz is shot in the neck as others rush forward to stab their bayonets into his helpless body.

It may be in part because of the revolutionary context of the film V for Vendetta in which the 1812 overture is used, but I cannot separate this piece from those feelings of passion, change, and revolution. This scene was one of the first in Dr. Zhivago that really brought the cold reality of the revolution to life. Pasternak continues to build on the tragedy and destruction of the war throughout the rest of the novel.