Wednesday, July 25, 2007

IdFLQ - GERMANY

Well tonight was the last competitor for this year's fireworks competition (International des Feux Loto-Quebec) And it was really incredible! There was a consistent display of fireworks both low and high with a couple of lower moments, but overall you could see this display from a fair distance and it never lost my attention.

Their music was mostly classic in nature, although they did not stick to only German composers. The opening piece was an excerpt of Bach's Toccata and Fugue in d minor - one of my all time favourite classical pieces, and certainly one of the most recognized pipe organ peices by him or any other composer. It's a heavy piece, very much at ease next to the bombastic accompaniment of Fireworks. And what was even more interesting to me was an excerpt from Romeo and Juliet by Prokofiev (The Duke's Command) that I felt was missing from France's display, this past Saturday; although it was not my preferred OSM rendition, it was played nonetheless. The music continues along it's classical bent, and included Offenbach's 'Galop' from Orpheus in the Underworld (you know... the music you always hear when French 'Ladies' are dancing the Can-Can) which was a hit with Didier and two other French guests. And then th music changed into more contemporary instrumental peices, must enjoyable for me was some of Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells. It's got a slightly eerie feeling (he also well know as the composer for the music to the movie The Exorcist) and that too lent itself well to the pyrotechnics.

I'm going to go out on a limb and say these were my favourites. Not because they were the biggest, or the loudest, or the most original (see Hon Kong's '2 0 0 8' fireworks) but because for me they had the full package: Great music that stood out for me as not being the 'Pop' and current, rather simply selecting music that would go well with the fireworks and be able to hold it's own. They were consistent in their display fully using the sky for their canvas. Great colours and interesting individual sizes and shapes. Well choreographed and synchronized to the music. And finally their Finale was easy to spot (You know some times you're like.. 'Is this it? is this the Finale? no wait, This is it. Is it?) ... and the real test for me... I actually clapped at the end. :-)

Ok enough yammering... here's some pics...























And now... my final tally on this year's competition...


GOLD: Germany
SILVER: USA
BRONZE: England

HONOURABLE MENTION: Canada

And then you have...
Hong Kong
France
Spain
Mexico

Come back on Saturday night to see if I was even at all remotely close.

18 comments:

Bruno Laliberté said...

we'll see if you are right on the money!!!
as i said on my blog, i will not venture a guess as i missed two, but...USA???
:)~ i meant to ask you:
did you read all of my blogs,
or only the most recent??
was wondering, as i've seen you often in my statistics...
'cause i thought to my self, oh my!!! he's gonna think i have way too much opinions....
:D~
your verdict??
:)~

HUGZ

Sean Newbury said...

Well I've been watching these things for the past 16 years... I've never gotten the Gold Medal correct. I often have 1 or 2 of the actual top 3, but not in the right order.

But I like the gamble, I like to guess... sooner or later I'll be right1 It HAS to happen!

Are you questioning my placing USA in the top 3? or not as Gold?I read your Blog all the time...

don;t always comment on all posts, only when I gots something to say... speaking of I tried 3 times today to post regarding Alex Despatie but could not post I'd hit ADD but nothing... And I tried to read the other comments on Tammy-Faye but no dice on that either the page would not load...

I'm telling ya I wish ya'd move over to Blogspot ;-)I have read your entire Blog! When I first got the damn thing to load I went back to your first post and read the whole dang thing!!!

I like your opinions, don't always agree but hey that's what it's all about right? I only wish MORE people were as direct and open...

JB said...

...purrdy.

I used to like watching the fireworks over Lake Banook on Dartmouth Natal Day, because they were right in your face, and the lake was always still, so it refelected them really well.

Sean Newbury said...

Oh yea JB I remember that well!

Now Halifax Natal Day fireworks are on the Harbour, which I guess is nice n' all but all my memories are of Concert on the Hill and the fireworks right over your head...

Bruno Laliberté said...

your comments appeared twice, had to delete one, than responded to it fine...
i think it's due to content, certain words may trigger the system....
i think
the reason i keep to ive spaces rather than blogspot, i like my photo albums in a diaporama, rather than spread out all on one page.

Sean Newbury said...

Well I still think it's better in Blogspot. Some times your page takes a couple of mins to load and then you click on something and it drrrrrrrrrrrags.... It's like surfing the net with an old 14.4 modem and that happens here at work or at home but no problems elsewhere.

And I'm sure there are ways to embed a image display (diaporama) like you got in Live Spaces, I see people adding video and other things all the time.
Weird that my comments appeard twice on your site An hour aftere I tried, and refreshed the page still nothing.

Bruno Laliberté said...

that's windows for you!!...
:(~

Sean Newbury said...

I can even hear you laughing as you say that!

Bruno Laliberté said...

if i'm laughing,
je ris jaune!!!
:D~
if you judge by my blogs,
i had much issues with window.
it's surprising,
given my temper...
that the PC didn't fly off the 8th floor...
much surprising!!
:D~
i guess i'm learning patience (finally) as i'm getting older.
or is it that i'm unwilling to throw thousands of dollars off the balcony??
:D~

Sean Newbury said...

My guess is the latter. ;-)

how's the spineal column?

Bruno Laliberté said...

could be worse,
could be a whole lot better.
i'll venture outside today,
as i need a few things.
let's just say you would call me "speedy gonzales".
no marathon for me.
i'll try the stairs in the subway.
if you hear on the news tonight that a baldy got stuck in the subway today, likely, it'll be me!!
:D~
wish me luck!!
:)~

Sean Newbury said...

Bonne chance!

I'll keep me fingers crossed!

Bruno Laliberté said...

thanx!!!
:D~

Bruno Laliberté said...

won't be making the news!!!!!
back home safely...
eventually!!!
took me forever....
but it's done,
i'm happy to report!!!
stairs=not good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
:D~

Sean Newbury said...

Well glad to hear you're not going to be on the evening news!
;-)

Bruno Laliberté said...

yes,
i would wish my claim to fame
would pertain to something else,
like winning the lotery tonight.
you see, i'd be fine with that...
:D~

Sean Newbury said...

Same here. Damn it! I could sure enjoy myself with that. and ensure many others enjoyed as well

Bruno Laliberté said...

got my to-do list ready
:D~