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Boston's 4th of July

Esplanade Concerts

Fourth Of July

The Esplanade concerts were inaugurated in 1929 by Arthur Fiedler--one year before he became conductor of the Boston Pops. Arthur Fiedler had the brilliant idea of changing the Boston Pops relationship to the city of Boston by offering free concerts because he felt that great symphonic music should be available to all citizens. He made his idea a reality by raising the funds to start the Boston Pops Esplanade concerts. On July 4, 1929 the first free Esplanade concert was performed at a specially constructed acoustical shell alongside the Charles River in Boston. The orchestra was composed of almost half of the musicians of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. In honor of his influence and vision, the Boston Pops dedicates its July 3 concert on the Esplanade to Arthur Fiedler.

The annual 4th of July concert was inaugurated in 1976, when 400,000 people attended as part of the bicentennial celebration - according to the Guinness Book of World Records, the largest audience in history for an orchestra concert. That record has since been broken three times: in 1998, 2003, and again in 2004, when more than a half-million people attended that year's concert.

The celebration is such a popular tradition that fans stake out the best spots when the grounds open at 6am. The excitement builds all day and culminates at the end of the concert when the orchestra performs Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture with the accompanying cannons and church bells. The orchestra ends the evening with its signature piece, John Philip Sousa's Stars and Stripes Forever. The July Fourth concert is televised on CBS and features a diverse program each year with special guest artists bringing different genres of music to the live and television audience. Recent guests include Jennifer Holliday, Debbie Reynolds, David Lee Roth, Cyndi Lauper, and LeAnn Rimes.

2009 Almost the Fourth Boat Cruise!
Call 617-638-9466 to purchase! On Friday, July 3, 2009, the Boston Symphony Association of Volunteers will offer Almost the Fourth!, featuring a delightful cruise on the Charles River, with a summer barbeque and cash bar on board. After dining, proceed to reserved seats in front of the Hatch Shell to enjoy Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra!