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Letter to the editor

Hold the cannon fire

By BILL COATS
Published May 4, 2007

NEW TAMPA - Dust off that picnic basket and prepare to enjoy a visit by the Florida Orchestra.

The 80-piece orchestra returns to the grounds of Grace Episcopal Church, 15102 Amberly Drive, for a Pops in the Park concert May 13. With the concert's 7:30 p.m. start, the sun will set as the orchestra plays.

The outdoor setting isn't the only casual aspect to the concerts, said Greg Musselman, orchestra spokesman. Musicians leave the tuxes at home and arrive in khakis. Concertgoers provide their own seats.

"Typically, people bring a blanket to spread out, or those low folding chairs, " Musselman said. He said some 2, 000 people attended last year's concert.

This year's program is a 10-piece hit parade of popular classics, including Beethoven's Egmont Overture and Strauss' Emperor Waltzes. The classics will be joined by movie themes from Pirates of the Caribbean and Lord of the Rings.

The concert is to end with polar-opposite pieces reminiscent of war: Ashokan Farewell, the haunting theme of Ken Burns' documentary series, The Civil War, and Tchaikovsky's stirring 1812 Overture, a celebration of Russia's victory over Napoleon.

The 1812 Overture carried a specification to include cannons firing during the finale. But Musselman said the orchestra won't be hauling cannons to Tampa Palms, much less firing them.

"We'll have our percussion section, " he said.

. if you go

Pops in the Park

The Florida Orchestra performs May 13 at 7:30 p.m. at Grace Episcopal Church, 15102 Amberly Drive.

[Last modified May 3, 2007, 06:40:21]