 Overture of the Season was commissioned by the Oregon Symphony for its 83rd season ; the work 's world premiere was presented by the orchestra on October 7 , 1978 . In 1994 , the classical music writer for Philadelphia Daily News said the composition had been performed by 55 orchestras within the three previous seasons . According to Svoboda 's website , as of May 2013 the work has been performed 270 times by 141 orchestras , under the direction of 93 conductors . The " festive " overture , which is approximately eight minutes in length , employs flutes , piccolo , oboes , clarinets , bassoons , horns , trumpets , trombones , tuba , timpani , percussion , and strings . 
