Speaking Volumes

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JULY 12, 2009

Kaboom!

It's hard to believe but I can remember seeing fireworks when I was as young as three. They made that much of an impression on me. At first, a bit terrified by the booms, I soon was awed by their beauty. Those were the days when you could purchase real fireworks, unlike the the sparklers and fountains available today. The kind that when you lit the fuse, shot into the air, burst into a brilliant display of color and exploded with a loud boom. Mishandled fireworks caused many injuries and even deaths eventually leading to laws in many states, including Connecticut, prohibiting their sale only to licensed, professional protectionists. While once there were fireworks stands the whole route from New Britain to Middletown, these became a thing of the past during my childhood.

I absolutely love fireworks. As the summer months approach, I await the 4th of July with trembling anticipation; the official start of the firework season. For me it starts with a trip to Riverfest in Hartford, then the following weekend finds me at Sailfest in New London (my hands down favorite display) and weekly trips to Mohegan Sun each Wednesday for their rooftop show. If there are fireworks nearby I'll be there.

A highlight of our trip to China a few years back was seeing fireworks in the country credited with their beginnings. According to George Plimpton in Fireworks: A History and Celebration, this may not be true but the Chinese did know how to use gunpowder to fire a projectile out of a barrel. Another awesome firework display takes place at Longwood Gardens, PA where music, fountains and fireworks are choreographed in a jaw-dropping performance.

Firework displays have come a long way in my lifetime. George Plimpton notes that old timers made the fireworks in the winter, shot them in the summer, leaving the largest for last. With that last huge band you knew that was the end of the show. Then came electronically programmed displays, changing the craft. Today, with computer synchronization, fireworks are a real art. In the US most are performed by Italian families, The Zambellis, The Rozzis and The Gruccis each perfecting their craft, keeping their secrets. Competition among these families is keen. The Grucci's alone have been in the business for 130 years. After a horrific explosion destroyed their 14 acre facility in Bellport , NY and killed two family members in 1983, The Grucci's wondered if they would continue producing and performing. They received so much mail from fans around the world encouraging them, that they are still in business today.

We are fortunate that through the sponsorship of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, The Grucci's have performed Sailfest fireworks for years. I went last night. The twenty-five minute display was spectacular, the booms, heart-pounding. I'm certain the estimated 300,000 in attendance agreed.

KABOOM!

Though there's not a great deal of material on fireworks try these from our library
Kaboom! The Sizzling story of Explosions
The Firemaker's Daughter by Philip Pullman
Music for the Royal Fireworks CD CLASSICAL HANDEL

or borrow this one Interlibrary Loan:
Fireworks: A History and Celebration by George Plimpton

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Comments

bas bleu said, on Jul. 15 at 12:54PM
My husband and I were talking about fireworks just the other night. We, too, have always enjoyed the spectacle. Both of us agree that the recent inclusion of "choreographed" music as part of the fireworks display is an intrusion for us rather than a complement to the event. We like a clear summer's night under the stars, with no sounds other than those made by the fireworks themselves and the oohs and aahs of the spectators.

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CarolK said, on Jul. 15 at 2:54PM
I will agree that I do not care for pop music with my fireworks. The music at Longwood compliments nicely but you're right, fireworks in and of themselves need nothing but you and the sky for enjoyment!

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Mercedes said, on Jul. 17 at 5:38AM
I too love fireworks although I don't get to see them very often. When we lived in Chicago, we never braved the crowds to go to Grant Park and see them up close but we were able to see some of the fireworks at a distance from up the lakefront. My favorite fireworks experience was going to Boston for the 4th of July and sitting in the park, listening to the Boston Pops and watching the fireworks. And what fireworks display would be complete without Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture as background music? Last year we went to a friend's picnic at which there were fireworks but our daughter was so terrified, we weren't able to stay for long. This year we didn't even try it. I'm hopeful that in a few years she'll outgrow her fear and that we'll be able to go as a family to Boston for the fireworks display.

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CarolK said, on Jul. 17 at 7:30AM
Lucky you Mercedes! I've always wanted to see the Boston 4th of July Fireworks in person. Perhaps next year. They are reportedly the primo display. And I'm in agreement that Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture lends itself beautifully to a fireworks display. The Boston crowd goes wild over this. I, too, was really terrified of the thunderous sound when I was young. I vividly remember screaming for my father to get me out of there. In time though, I came to love the booms! The sound of the explosion is why I love seeing them at Mohegan Sun so much. There's an echo there as the sound bounces off the rock cliffs that surround the property. That makes it for me. I'm glad you are protecting your children from something that might frighten them. Plenty of time in the future for this experience.