[Dixielandjazz] concert fights and other disasters

[Larry Walton Entertainment - St. Louis]

I knew it was one of those long hair guys - Larry
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "John McClernan" <mcclernan1 at comcast.net>
To: "Larry Walton" <larrys.bands at charter.net>
Cc: "Dixieland Jazz Mailing List" <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Friday, May 11, 2007 9:10 PM
Subject: Re: [Dixielandjazz] concert fights and other disasters


One of my favorite stories is about Handel's "Music For The Royal
Fireworks". Read this and you'll see why I chose portions of it for
the Processional and Recessional at my wedding. Too good to pass up.

A Suite written by Handel to celebrate the signing of the Treaty of
Aix-la-Chapelle which ended the War of Austrian Succession. It was
commissioned by King George II (1740-1748). The treaty also firmly
established George and his heirs the rulers of England, so he was
understandably in party mood.

The work is a French-style suite, beginning with an overture in 3/4
time and in D major. The subsequent 5 movements are stylized dances
including "La Paix" (peace) and a final allegro called "La
Réjouissance" (Rejoicing). As the piece was written to be performed
outside in Vauxhall Gardens, the orchestration is heavy on the louder
instruments available; oboes, bassoons and brass dominate.

It was a measure of Handel's popularity that a large paying audience
turned up for a rehearsal of the work, causing one of London's
earliest traffic-jams.

"The Gentleman's Magazine" carried the following report on Friday, 21
April, 1749:

"Was performed at Vauxhall Gardens the rehearsal of the music for the
fireworks by a band of 100 musicians, to an audience above 12,000
persons (tickets 2s 6d). So great a resort occasioned such a stoppage
on London Bridge, that no carriage could pass for three hours. The
footmen were so numerous as to obstruct the passage, so that a
scuffle happened, in which some gentlemen were wounded."
The actual premiere (on 27 April 1749) met with worse disaster. Not
only was the orchestra drowned out by the fireworks and 101 cannon
blasts, but there was a large scale fire. The orchestra performed on
a specially-constructed stage. It was 100 feet high and topped by a
200 foot sun. All made of wood. Some stray fireworks landed on it and
it caught fire. Handel stuck to his conducting, whilst the audience
ran for their lives...


On May 11, 2007, at 7:12 PM, Larry Walton Entertainment - St. Louis
wrote:

> Well a couple of nights ago there was a slug fest at the Boston  Pops. 
> (Should we ban the Boston Pops for inciting Riots?) Just a  little 
> historical perspective, there were brawls when several  classical 
> composers performed their music.
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