With the annual Grant Park fireworks a thing of the past and thus the need for the Grant Park Orchestra to play that odd choice for Independence Day in doubt, it's time to think anew and schedule something else to commemorate the American Revolution. Join my Facebook page and voice your opinion: http://tinyurl.com/yjgqq2n

Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture" should be dropped from all July 4th celebrations because it is not relative to anything about America. But what piece of music will we replace it with? Go to the Discussions tab to put in your recommendation.

 
For 2010 the City of Chicago has announced that it's scrapping its long standing July 3rd grand fireworks display in Grant Park on the eve of our nation's birthday. A part of that celebration has been the performance of Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture" during our fireworks. The Grant Park Orchestra only started the annual playing of this music for the fireworks in the mid 1980's. And it has continued to do so because no one has paused to ask, "Why?"

It was all started as a way to bring in the crowds for the Boston Pops in its 1974 performance on Boston's Esplanade as a prelude to their July 4th fireworks. Although it was supported by the Pops' music director and conductor, Arthur Fiedler, the idea was actually the brainchild of Boston grocery mogul David Mugar, who told Fiedler that a loud and flashy piece might attract bigger crowds to the performance. Since the Pops performance was broadcast on TV nationwide, their use of the 1812 Overture caught on with other cities which also had big fireworks displays accompied by live orchestra. The Boston performances still distinguish themselves with the inclusion of actual artillery and church bells as called for by the score. You can read more about this at http://tinyurl.com/y9ppnty