Is the Capitol Fourth pre-recorded?

[jmerring]

I was watching it, Monday night. I am in the same time zone, but while it was absolutely dark here, it was almost full sunlight at the concert site. When the fireworks went off, the times seemed to be in sync. Of course, PBS showed it again, immediately thereafter.

By the way; I was able to determine the player's name (tuba) and thought that the horn must have been 6/4 in size. It was gorgeous (from what I could see).

[bbocaner]

No, it's live save a slight delay. Sometimes the army herald trumpets or whatever is lip syncing because it'd be hard to mic them and sometimes there are little pre-recorded bits and pieces that go in there.

Steve Dumaine plays a melton 6450 baer model.

[jmerring]

I thank you for the information and confirmation of my thought about the horn being exceptionally large.

[bort]

We're still pretty close to the solstice, so places north of you have longer days than you right now. Location east/west within the time zone makes a difference too.

Interestingly enough, NYC and DC get about the same amount of sunlight (even a little less in NYC since NYC is farther east than DC, so that cancels out some of the effect of being farther north.)

I guess that doesn't totally explain the dark/sunlight comparison, but a start...

[Mark]

The NSO was great. In fact, almost everyone was great. I just don't get the fascination with Josh Groban though.

[sloan]

The Capitol Fourth was broadcast live...and then repeated immediately after. Perhaps you were watching the rerun?

[David Richoux]

I went to the live show last years after my band marched in the parade. Unless you get there immediately when the gates open (or have some sort of a reservation/pass) you probably won't get a good view of the stage. I couldn't even really see the big TV screens from the side lawn. When they started in on 1812 I realized I would not be able to actually see the fireworks (because of the trees) so I went down to the Mall with the huddled masses.

It was OK overall, but I probably will never do that again... better on TV!

Getting back to the hotel in Arlington (about 2.5 miles away) took almost 3 hours by Metro.

[tofu]

Did Little Richard go too long or do they always cut out part of the 1812 Overture?

[Mitch]

I only attended the Capitol Fourth once, while living in DC in 2002. Crazy security with it being really about the first large-scale public gathering after 9/11, let alone the first large-scale gathering held right next to the Capitol Building.

As I recall, there was at least one canned performance, when some young punk of whom I'd never heard, and haven't since, sang with some other young woman of whom I'd never heard and haven't since. I thought it was ridiculous, that karaoke performance, what with one of the country's great orchestras sitting idly behind them. Everything else was live, though.
Once the fireworks started, there was a mass exodus for the mall behind the stage. We, however, moved back. I strongly advocate that every red-blooded American should, at least once in their lives, sit high on the steps of the Capitol, watching/hearing the NSO play the 1812 Overture with a battery of cannon while fantastic fireworks come up behind the Washington Monument. What a moment.

While we're here, why is it that on our national holiday, the music most often associated with the peak of the moment celebrates a Russian defeat of the French?

I'm kinda sorta thinking we've had enough of our own great moments that we ought to have something celebrating our own history, trials, tribulations and victories. With, of course, cannon.

Oh, and +1 on failing to understand the fascination with Josh Groban. What's up with that?

[TubaRay]

While we're here, why is it that on our national holiday, the music most often associated with the peak of the moment celebrates a Russian defeat of the French?

One of many intriguing question concerning history....

[sloan]

While we're here, why is it that on our national holiday, the music most often associated with the peak of the moment celebrates a Russian defeat of the French?

One of many intriguing question concerning history....

It has Bang, Baroom, and Harps - and besides: Americans don't know (or have, really) any history.

If only America had a song that celebrated exploding fireworks. Oh...wait...

[Mitch]

Here are a couple suggestions:

"Omaha, 1944"

"July 1, 1863"

"Lake Champlain"

"From Saratoga to Yorktown", "Concord," "Christmas, 1776"

etc., etc.

And, again, they must include a cannon part. Ideally, three-part writing for a battery of no less than 12 cannon, with optional field rifle and pistol parts, as well as parts for choir and portable carillon. (I have drawings for the portable carillon available.)

Because, c'mon, isn't anyone else tired of hearing Russian nationalistic music to celebrate our Independence Day? Nothing against Tchaikovski - it's a great piece. Loads of fun. While I've not served in the military, many members of my family, including my dad, have. I've stood on the battlefields of Normandy, Antietam, Fredericksburg and more. I've stood in the cemeteries and was in complete awe at the sacrifice of so many. I had a great uncle who threw his helmet then his body over a grenade to protect the other men in the foxhole and had three fingers and one ear to prove it (though he never talked about it). I knew a man who was one deck up from the hole in the USS Cole, whose heart had to be restarted twice before they even got him off the ship, who, on a daily basis, would still have tiny pieces of shrapnel move to the surface of his skin and fall out. (One day, I saw him pull a piece out of his forearm, and he jokingly said, "Want a piece of the Cole?") I always had a strong appreciation for the sacrifices made by others on our behalf, and always thank a soldier or sailor for his/her service whenever I see them, whether I know them or not. Perhaps discovering four ancestors who are certified Revolutionary Patriots only added to my national pride. But, goldernit, I think it's about high time we get somethin' of our own.

My apologies to the OP. I always hate when a thread gets hijacked, and there I've gone and done it. Sincerest apologies. /rant

[jmerring]

The Capitol Fourth was broadcast live...and then repeated immediately after. Perhaps you were watching the rerun?

No, I watched the original broadcast at 8:00 pm, and watched the entire fireworks show. The show ended at 10:00 and then the rebroadcast started. By the way; how bad did Jimmy Smits look? No amount of concealer could hide those dark circles. The face seems swollen, too.

[jmerring]

Here are a couple suggestions:

"Omaha, 1944"

"July 1, 1863"

"Lake Champlain"

"From Saratoga to Yorktown", "Concord," "Christmas, 1776"

etc., etc.

And, again, they must include a cannon part. Ideally, three-part writing for a battery of no less than 12 cannon, with optional field rifle and pistol parts, as well as parts for choir and portable carillon. (I have drawings for the portable carillon available.)

Because, c'mon, isn't anyone else tired of hearing Russian nationalistic music to celebrate our Independence Day? Nothing against Tchaikovski - it's a great piece. Loads of fun. While I've not served in the military, many members of my family, including my dad, have. I've stood on the battlefields of Normandy, Antietam, Fredericksburg and more. I've stood in the cemeteries and was in complete awe at the sacrifice of so many. I had a great uncle who threw his helmet then his body over a grenade to protect the other men in the foxhole and had three fingers and one ear to prove it (though he never talked about it). I knew a man who was one deck up from the hole in the USS Cole, whose heart had to be restarted twice before they even got him off the ship, who, on a daily basis, would still have tiny pieces of shrapnel move to the surface of his skin and fall out. (One day, I saw him pull a piece out of his forearm, and he jokingly said, "Want a piece of the Cole?") I always had a strong appreciation for the sacrifices made by others on our behalf, and always thank a soldier or sailor for his/her service whenever I see them, whether I know them or not. Perhaps discovering four ancestors who are certified Revolutionary Patriots only added to my national pride. But, goldernit, I think it's about high time we get somethin' of our own.

My apologies to the OP. I always hate when a thread gets hijacked, and there I've gone and done it. Sincerest apologies. /rant

ABSOLUTELY NO APOLOGIES ARE NEEDED! YOU HAVE DESCRIBED THE REASON FOR THE HOLIDAY TO PERFECTION. Thank you/