Music at McClellan's Explosive Conclusion
The artillery that is assembled for the Alabama Symphony Orchestra's performance of the 1812 Overture during the final concert of the each season is typical of that which was in existence at the time of the Overture's composition. The light twelve-pound field gun, commonly called the twelve-pound Napoleon after its inventor Napoleon Bonaparte, was the mainstay for military forces in both Europe and America. In addition to the twelve-pound Napoleon, we also had three-inch ordinance rifles, ten-pound Parrot Rifles, twelve-pound field howitzers and twelve-pound mountain howitzers that participated in the final concert of the 2008 season.

Although there have been numerous performance of the 1812 Overture with electronically fired artillery, all artillery being used for Music at Mcclellan are being fired by the same meoth that would have been used at the Overture's initial performance - the friction primer. Although a much more difficult fire method, our performance is historically correct and exactly what the original audiences of 1863 would have experienced. Music at McClellan thanks the following;

• Fowler's Battery
• Confederate Memorial Park
• 12th Georgia Light Artillery
• Cherokee Artillery
• Alabama Militia Artillery
• Jeff Davis Artillery

Become a Cannon Sponsor
The 2009 season closes on June 13th with Classics & Cannons Under the Stars. If you haven't experienced the Alabama Symphony Orchestra's 1812 Overture with live cannon fire from a battery Civil War era cannon, you haven't experienced Tchaikovsky. This concert is always a memorable event. It is made more memorable in knowing that our Cannoneers are all volunteers and their perfect timing comes from dedication and practice.

Show your support of these wonderful volunteers and become a Cannon Sponsor. We need a minimum of 13 cannon and the crew to operate each cannon, and they need a place to stay after the concert. You can sponsor a cannon by providing room and board for the cannoneers, either at your family home or one of our local motels. For more details call (256) 235-9208 or (256) 782-8010 or visit our sponsor page.