Although programme music, it does not tell a specific story and is not "about" anything; instead, the piece depicts a mood and "sets a scene", making it an early example of such musical tone poems. The overture consists of two primary themes; the opening notes of the overture state the theme Mendelssohn wrote while visiting the cave, and is played initially by the violas, cellos, and bassoons.
Although program music, this piece does not tell a narrative or focus on any particular subject; instead, it aims to evoke a mood and create a scene, making it an early example of musical tone poems. The overture consists of two primary themes: the opening notes represent the theme Mendelssohn composed while exploring a cave, and they are initially played by the violas, cellos, and bassoons.