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Foreign 4th music?
Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2010 11:14 am
by tbn.al
Does anyone know how 1812 got to be a standard for our Independance Day celebrations? As an aside, I heard a broadcast from Atlanta, I believe Centenial Park, that used the "Ride" as a closer. Nothing against Russians or Germans, I are one, but I do find this strange.
Re: Foreign 4th music?
Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2010 12:42 pm
by pgym
Thank Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops, particularly the nationwide broadcast of the Bicentennial July 4 concert, for which Fiedler arranged, among other things, the ringing of the Liberty Bell (via television hookup) along with most of the church bells in the city of Boston.
For more on the July 4/1812 Overture connection, see:
http://www.post-gazette.com/ae/20030704overtureae3.asp" target="_blank" target="_blank
(While we're on the subject of foreign music, I find it mildly amusing that
God Save the Queen features so prominently in 4th of July celebrations.
)
Re: Foreign 4th music?
Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2010 1:17 pm
by tjonp
The irony lies particularly in the fact that the music is not only foreign, but smacks of Russian nationalism. The use of both Russian and French music is meant to commemorate a specific event in Russian history, the invasion of Russia by Napoleon. I can't help but wonder how many 4th-of-July spectators are aware of the Russian national anthem (in Tchaikovsky's time) prominent in the finale, while the cannons are firing.
Re: Foreign 4th music?
Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2010 11:39 pm
by iiipopes
goodgigs wrote:Are you sure it was the original 1776 bell with the huge crach in its side?
Um, the Liberty Bell was cast in 1753.
Re: Foreign 4th music?
Posted: Wed Jul 07, 2010 11:15 am
by pgym
goodgigs wrote:pgym wrote:Thank Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops, particularly the nationwide broadcast of the Bicentennial July 4 concert, for which Fiedler arranged, among other things, the ringing of the Liberty Bell (via television hookup) along with most of the church bells in the city of Boston.
For more on the July 4/1812 Overture connection, see:
http://www.post-gazette.com/ae/20030704overtureae3.asp" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank
(While we're on the subject of foreign music, I find it mildly amusing that
God Save the Queen features so prominently in 4th of July celebrations.
)
Are you sure it was the original 1776 bell with the huge crach in its side?
I looked (quickly) on U-Tube, and there were no films of it ringing and I seem to remember hearing that it couldn't be rung.(?)
The Liberty Bell is no longer rung (tolled) in the usual sense of "ringing," but it does still "rung" symbolically (tapped lightly with a gloved finger) on special occasions, which was the case during the Bicentennial.
Re: Foreign 4th music?
Posted: Wed Jul 07, 2010 11:21 am
by sinfonian
It is played on the 4th of July because most Americans think it is related to the War of 1812 that we had with England and no nothing about the other war going on in Europe in 1812 with Napoleon. I know when I was a kid that was my first thought.
Re: Foreign 4th music?
Posted: Wed Jul 07, 2010 11:34 am
by bort
sinfonian wrote:It is played on the 4th of July because most Americans think it is related to the War of 1812 that we had with England and no nothing about the other war going on in Europe in 1812 with Napoleon. I know when I was a kid that was my first thought.
I always figured it was for the "Hey, 1812, I know that year..." coincidence.
I lived in Baltimore for 27 years, and in school, you take lots of field trips to Fort McHenry and learn a lot about the War of 1812. That non-connection is probably very strong down there.
Speaking of foreign things -- how about the irony of celebrating American independence with fireworks, an invention of the Chinese from over 1000 years ago?
Re: Foreign 4th music?
Posted: Wed Jul 07, 2010 12:58 pm
by windshieldbug
Speaking of foreign irony, in about 400 B.C. , Greeks used a goffering iron to create pleats on linen robes. The goffering iron was a rolling pin-like round bar that was heated before use.
Re: Foreign 4th music?
Posted: Wed Jul 07, 2010 5:08 pm
by tbn.al
windshieldbug wrote:Speaking of foreign irony:P
I'm just not a quick as I used to be. That took me about 2 1/2 minutes but I finally got it.