concert overture

A concert overture is an orchestral piece intended for concert performance, distinct from an overture that introduces a larger dramatic work like an opera.12

In the 19th century, the concert overture emerged as a standalone, one-movement composition. It often adopted either the classical sonata form or the more flexible structure of a symphonic poem. Composers like Felix Mendelssohn, with his Hebrides overture, and Elliott Carter, with his Holiday overture, exemplify this form. Concert overtures were also created for specific occasions, such as Johannes Brahms's Academic Festival Overture. These pieces draw inspiration from the style of overtures found in romantic operas.2