For going on three decades, the Baldwin Pops has provided the symphonic soundtrack for Fairhope's big Fourth of July celebration. It seems a shame that these hard-working musicians don't get to see much of the fireworks.

Unlike almost everyone else at the event, the members of the community band have their backs to the bay as they turn their attention to sheet music in front of them and to their conductor's baton.

But from time to time, they can't resist sneaking a peek at the colorful displays in the sky behind them.

"Whenever we are able to take a quick break from playing, we tend to turn around for just a moment," says clarinet player Anne Brooks, who has been with the group since its first performance in 1998. She says the clear plexiglass cover on her music stand acts somewhat as a rearview mirror. "I can see the reflections of the fireworks a little bit. If it's one of those big bursts that looks like a chandelier, I can kind of see the colors as they come cascading down."

An interior designer and artist, Anne is one of about 75 musicians (and one of seven charter members) who make up the Baldwin Pops, all of them volunteers from varied backgrounds. Ranging in age from teens to seniors, they come together from many walks of life to make music with their assortment of brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. 

As you might have guessed, the majority of them were in the marching band in high school, and some have even more experience.

"We have professionals who have played in orchestras and band directors who are trained music educators," says Anne, "and we have others who have just knocked the dust off their instruments after not playing for 25 years." 

Their annual appearance at Henry George Bluff Park is one of 10 public performances they typically have during the year, and it gives them the most exposure by far. They can count on a crowd of thousands on Independence Day. While those colorful explosions in the sky just after sunset are the main attraction, the Baldwin Pops are also a big part of the picture.

They consider it an honor to be part of such a longstanding Fairhope tradition, but for the band members, it's not just a pleasant day in the park. A lot of work and preparation go into the holiday production, including a series of rehearsals to sharpen their complex musical arrangements.

"We all do it because we enjoy it, so it's got to be fun," Anne says, "but the music has to be challenging and interesting."

All of this was evident at a recent practice session held at the building on Nichols Street that is home to both the Church of the Redeemer and the Baldwin County Youth Orchestra. There were lots of smiles and easy chit-chat as they moved into place to warm up, and then it was down to business once Conductor and Music Director Wayne Fillingim picked up his baton.

A trained saxophonist who was a longtime high school band director, Wayne was firm but courteous as he led the band through musical passages that he felt needed some tightening up before the big show. He wants to strike just the right tone when leading his colleagues, being careful and thoughtful with his criticisms as well as his praise.

"It's more rigid than people might think," Wayne says, "but as a group, I think they respect the fact that I want the very best out of them. And they really come through — I have put some very challenging music in front of them, and they've played it masterfully."

With the Baldwin Pops, Wayne follows a line of succession, in a sense, because two of the previous conductors of the group, co-founders Joe Riemer and Steve Sims, were his own band directors in high school. Coming up through the ranks himself as a band member, having joined in 2014 on alto sax, he understands why his fellow musicians put in all the hours and effort toward their time onstage.

"As cliché as it sounds, we like playing our instruments for a crowd," says Wayne. "It just brings everyone great joy to be a part of it."

Before the launch of the fireworks, crowds of people are finding a place to park and scoping out precious space to set out their lawn chairs, blankets, and maybe a picnic basket and other supplies. As all of this is happening, the members of the Baldwin Pops are braving the summer heat, hoping for a breeze off the bay, as they set the mood with music. 

Hours after the production staff arrives to set up, their performance starts at 7 p.m. with selections from a vast repertoire that includes patriotic music, show tunes, classical and jazz selections, pop and folk songs, and famous movie themes. When nightfall comes after a short break, the band provides almost 20 minutes of continuous marches to give more force and drama to the fireworks display. 

Marches are the musical pieces the military has long used that have a steady, specific tempo and rhythm to facilitate synchronized marching. For the band, Anne points out, they are especially demanding because there aren't any pauses.

Toward the end of the fireworks display, there's a surge of excitement for the players and their conductor as they hit the opening bars of the traditional closer, which is John Philip Sousa's "The Stars and Stripes Forever." Timing is everything when it comes to the big finish, and it's in the hands of the conductor, who is the only one in the collective with a clear view of the fireworks.

This musical countdown is something that Wayne has had in mind from the first flash of the pyrotechnics. If the music seems to be slightly ahead of pace or behind it, he can make adjustments on the fly by changing the tempo slightly or even cueing the band to repeat or skip a section of the song.

"I know that we have approximately 19 minutes of fireworks, so I'm looking at my watch and I also have a timer set on my phone," Wayne says. "When I have three or four minutes left, it's time to start 'Stars and Stripes.'"

He's watching for what looks like the last blast of fireworks going up and signals the band accordingly. When they get it just right, don't be surprised if you hear shouts of elation from the assembled musicians.

"Ending a few seconds after the last of the fireworks is great, but you don't want to end earlier, so I stretch it out if I need to," says Wayne. "Two years ago, we were right on the money, and last year we were a few seconds off. It was so close."