Secrets behind fabulous fireworks.
As Bonfire Night takes place tonight, Sue Reay of Benchmark Communications, organisers of Design North East, visited Alan Hillary Pyrotechnics in Gateshead to find out what lies behind the design of the large public spectacularsA Clevery choreographed fireworks display with music and light is one of the best finales to an evening, whether it is a personal celebration or a large public event.
I have often wondered what lay behind such a display and how it was designed so I asked Adam Hillary, the display designer and director of Alan Hillary Pyrotechnics, how to start to plan these magical displays.
"There are two key elements that we always begin with," said Adam.
"The first is the music and how it is to be interpreted and the second is the landscape and environment of where the display is to take place.
"The latter can help create the drama or theatrical atmosphere for the display, similar to a stage setting for a musical or play. Buildings and trees lend themselves well to this."
Adam said the theme is often set for the company, such as a wedding or the Tall Ships Race, but the firm searches out the music that will complement the theme and the client's own ideas.
Music can range from classical to contemporary or a mixture, or even specially commissioned pieces, which is what Alan Hillary Pyrotechnics did for the last Tall Ships Race.
Adam said: "Local composer Brendan Healy wrote a special suite for the event on a maritime theme and then we choreographed the fireworks to this.
"The music is always professionally mixed in our studio and we synchronise the fireworks and lights to make the whole display pleasing to both the ear and eye."
This is where the creative element comes in and from this the pyrotechnics are designed.
This initially done on paper and then in detail by computer to turn it into a complete score with exact timings.
Computer technology has advanced firework displays, allowing for precision timing for some very complex bursts.
"We write the programme for the display in columns," explained Adam.
"The music is in one column, the type of fireworks, colours and effects in a second column and the split second timing in a third.
"We need to work out the firing time against the burst or effect time.
"For example, a large aerial chrysanthemum takes four seconds from firing to when it bursts in the air, this is known as the climb time to the height it will burst at 1,000 feet above."
A firework bursts at between 300 and 1,000 feet depending on the type, and the travelling time is from when they are fired to when they burst.
Once the programme is computerised for the display, it then needs to be prepared.
On average it takes between 2,000 and 5,000 fireworks and these are fused together in groups, according to the rhythm of the music and
time delays.
There is a direct correlation between time and measurement as a second in time equates to an inch in measurement. "The music and firework burst should act as one," said Adam. For a truly spectacular show these will harmonise together by generating gaps in the bursts to the rhythm of the music."
When prepared, the fireworks are boxed and driven to the site and laid out ready to fire electronically from a firing console.
There are two ways to fire - electronically from the cue sheet with a stopwatch, or by computer, which is essential for the larger shows.
Alan Hillary, managing director of family-run Alan Hillary Pyrotechnics, first became involved with fireworks displays in 1981 when he was the production manager for the Royal Fireworks for the wedding of Charles and Diana.
He said: "Since the royal wedding the fireworks industry has steadily grown. It is no longer just concentrated around Hallowe'en and Guy Fawkes but extends to all types of celebrations.
"I have done one that involved a funeral that was especially requested by the deceased and his family to celebrate his life, another was a marriage proposal."
And what was the outcome of that?
"I'm not sure, her answer was lost in the bang!"
Tyneside has been home to some of the best large public firework spectaculars such as for the Tall Ships, which Alan has been involved with since the first visit in 1986.
One of the largest displays seen in the region was in 2001 for the Turning the Tide project to celebrate the clean-up of the Durham coastline.
"This involved three separate firework displays," said Alan.
"All these needed to be synchronised together along 10km of the Durham coastline.
"The music was written by a Durham composer Jez Lowe and the whole event cost pounds 150,000."
Quite a celebration budget, but this is not the norm and Alan Hillary Pyrotechnics cater for many private displays for a much smaller budget of less than pounds 1,000.
Recently, the company has been commissioned to prepare a fireworks display to welcome home some of the military forces returning from the war in Iraq.
The history of fireworks
Fireworks are thought to have been discovered by accident in ancient China over 2,000 years ago when a Chinese alchemist was rubbing ingredients together over a fire.
The concoction was then packed into bamboo tubes and thrown on to a fire. The gases collected were powerful enough to blow the tube apart, and thus the firecracker was born.
These fireworks were often used at special occasions such as New Year, weddings and births as it was believed the loud bang would dispel any evil spirits.
However, it was the Europeans who really developed fireworks into the modern day displays we are familiar with, particularly the Italians and Germans, with the Italians being the first to manufacture fireworks. The first recorded fireworks in England were at the wedding of Henry VII in 1486.
Since then they have been very popular at major royal events.
The earliest recorded use of gunpowder in England was in 1214 by Franciscan Monk Roger Bacon.
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| Title Annotation: | Business Local |
|---|---|
| Publication: | The Journal (Newcastle, England) |
| Date: | Nov 5, 2003 |
| Words: | 1017 |
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