Picnic & Pops in the Park

Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestra holds pops concert in Wenona Park Shell

July 17, 2005       Leave a Comment
By: Stephen Kent

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From the bridge, the "awning" on the Friendship Shell in Wenona Park must have looked a bit strange. On closer inspection, it proved to be a very practical tempoary sun shade to protect the Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestra during their "Picnic & Pops in the Park" concert Sunday afternoon.

Despite the unseasonably warm and humid weather, several hundred people turned out to enjoy the concert. Many sat on the grass out in the open area, but every tree and other source of shade had people sitting out of the sun to enjoy the music. A brisk breeze coming off of the river actually made the day quite plesant.

Earlier in the day musiciansfrom the orchestra performed "random acts of Music" around the downtown area. There were flutes in the garden next to Violets Blue, horns on the street, and various other small groups. Many of the area resturants got into the act by selling box luncheswhich folks could take to the park for a picnic.

The concert itself started at 4:00 and ran for an hour and a half. Opening with the National Anthem, the program moved on to the Overture to William Tell, Saint Bailey's Rag, the jazzy A Fifth of Beethoven, and the The Pink Panther. After a short intermission the second half included Superman March, Polka and Fugue, and The Typewriter featuring a solo on that classic, antique instrument, the typewriter!

Patrick Flynn, Music Director and Conductor for the symphony, provided very entertaining commentary throughout the performance. In the second half, he invited kids to come down front to take part as the "Symphony Hoe-Down Dancers". Flynn instructed the half dozen kids in the proper steps then gave them cues as the orchestra played Hoe-Down from Aaron Copland's Rodeo.

The concert wrapped up with the thrilling 1812 Overture then an encore performanceof the world's greatest march, The Stars and Stripes Forever.

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Stephen Kent
Steve Kent and his family have lived in Bay City for 40 years. He is VP of Technical Services at MMCC which produces MyBayCity.Com. Kent is active in many Bay City civic organizations. More from Stephen Kent

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