Beginning with the plaintive Russian melody of the Eastern Orthodox Troparion of the Holy Cross ( also known as `` O Lord , Save Thy People '' ) played by four cellos and two violas , the piece moves through a mixture of pastoral and martial themes portraying the increasing distress of the Russian people at the hands of the invading French .
The Overture begins with the plaintive Russian Orthodox Troparion of the Holy Cross ( `` God Preserve Thy People '' ) played by eight cellos and four violas .