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 considered program music, this piece does not tell a story or have a specific subject matter; instead, it aims to evoke a mood and set a scene, making it an early example of musical tone poems. The overture features two main themes: the opening notes are associated with the theme Mendelssohn composed while exploring a cave, and they are initially played by the violas, cellos, and bassoons.