The overture INDIAN RIVER starts in the minor mode and thus depicts a somewhat melancholic mood. This is an allusion by the composer to the fate of the Indians which by no means had been a peaceful one at all times. All of a sudden an Indian fetches a tam-tam and begins to play. A fast dance follows – the dancers move in a circle and in a stoop. This dance is also accompanied by the tam-tam. The Indians hold their hands around their mouths and shout “Uh-wah-uh” many times. A romantic fragment follows; it is the silence at a clear river. This part too uses the same motif. However, it is presented in a totally different atmosphere. When noon is over, the dance picks up again and eventually leads towards a final climax.