A Hoedown for the Fourth

In keeping with my thoughts from yesterday, here is my new video for 2017's Independence Day. Let's just have a great summer hoedown and have fun for the Fourth. Let bells ring and fireworks light up the night!

Ever Wonder?

Just a quick snarky comment:

Ever wonder how or why a piece of music about the Russian victory over the French in 1812 became a standard for fireworks in the United States?

Just asking.

Note: I played this way back in college when our band (Lehigh) and the Yale Band did a concert at Carnegie Hall. Yes, we used a real, though small, cannon. Now our concert band does it every 4th of July with fireworks for the cannon.

Bells and Bonfires; Games and Sports

I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.
-John Adams

Solemnize: To perform or celebrate

It does not mean: to make dull and boring.

John Adams had it right about Independence Day. It is not a day of somberness and overwhelming gravity. It is a day to celebrate. To remind ourselves of the joy of freedom. It is a day for fun and games, not boredom inducing speeches. It is a day to give gratitude that we live in such a country where freedom was given new definitions.

We dare not forget today that we are the heirs of that first revolution.
-John F. Kennedy

A couple years ago I put together a short video simply to show fireworks. It is the John Adams' way!