The Editor's Back Fence

A Glorious Third in Richmond

Monday July 04, 2011 - 09:59:00 AM



Richmond Councilmember Tom Butt writes: "The City of Richmond has a tradition of fireworks and the Oakland-East Bay Symphony on July 3 at at the Craneway Pavillion, part of the rehabilitated former Ford Assembly Plant and also part of Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park. As the fireworks begin, the Symphony breaks into a medley of stirring John Philip Sousa marches. This is the best Independence day celebration in the Bay Area." 

The Oakland East Bay Symphony provided a pops concert that had young and old audience members dancing in the aisles to top hits from the musical theater and movie tradition. A 13-year-old piano soloist, Mischa Gallant, played a movement from a Chopin concerto, and the enthusiastic audience clapped after all the flashy bits, just as they would in a jazz concert. 

One of the best moments came in the middle of a medley from The Sound of Music. The fire alarm went off, triggering intermittently flashing strobes around the cavernous room, punctuated by loud blasts of sound. No one panicked. It was clear that there was little risk of fire in a building which was mostly steel girders, so everyone assumed, correctly, that it was a false alarm. As we waited for it to be turned off, someone started syncopated clapping in between the shrieks-- spontaneously making music out of noise. Great fun.