Went down to Auditorium Shores for the fireworks this year. First experience and it was a memorable one. About 100,000 people attended, but as Austin has that little big city vibe, it didn’t feel crammed.
My favorite part – the Austin symphony performed before and during the fireworks. I love love love live orchestras. Fireworks were shot over Lady Bird Lake with the city skyline in view. Stunning.
Irony of the night – I was sitting on the curb enjoying the live symphony music + fireworks + of course people watching…and the symph. started playing Tchaikovsky’s famous 1812 Overture…and I started thinking about the irony of the situation.
Irony:
- Tchaikovsky is Russian
- Tchaikovsky wrote the 1812 Overture in honor of Russia defending Moscow from Napoleon’s army
- The 4th of July is to celebrate the United States’ independence from Great Britain in 1776
…
Anyone else see the disconnect?
I did some research to try and figure out how the 1812 Overture became tradition on the 4th of July…and really…there is little connection between the 1812 Overture and US history.
Interesting. But doesn’t surprise me. Go America.
Regardless, it was a good 4th of July, and not to sound emo, but really a good time to reflect on our country’s history and be thankful / grateful for what we have here in the states…there’s really alot we take for granted and probably should appreciate a BIT more.
Of course I took video – the first is of the Austin Symphony, the second is the Firework show with the Austin Symphony in the background:
