Blandy Melodic Murmurations

 On Saturday, Bill and I went to Blandy, the Virginia Arboretum, as a unique installation was opening, only for the weekend. There were storms threatening Sunday, and we were forewarned that if rain was in the forecast, the installation would have to be dismantled, due to the electrical sound producing devices being water damaged.

We arrived as the group and volunteers were finishing the set up. This installation was created by Lee Weisert (Associate Professor, UNC Department of Music)  and Jonathon Kirk (Professor of Music, North Central College). A hundred hollow wood blocks had been attached to the ginkgo trees, with laser cut acrylic boxes that possibly contained microcontroller boards which activated small wooden mallets that knocked on the wooden blocks.The team didn't divulge exactly what was inside those plastic casings.

The woods chosen for the blocks were, purple heartwood, particularly favored by percussion musicians, mahogany, walnut and maple. The blocks are cut at different lengths to produce different notes, with slits up the sides to help amplify the sound. The instruments are triggered by computer-generated algorithms that mimic biologic and geologic processes. Some of the boxes were set at an angle to ensure they worked properly. High notes were at the top of the ginkgo grove, and progressed down the hill with the lower notes, staggering them a little. Each one has a numbered chip controlled by a radio.

Bill and I each selected a tree, eagerly waiting for our blocks to knock, and I have to confess, the first one made me jump, I was so excited. They began with short runs, testing the blocks, and then lengthier murmurations. It was a captivating and engaging experience, walking from tree to tree, wondering which block would chime next, and the surround sound effect, as more and more blocks chimed, was incredible.

This link shows a short video of when I stood by one tree.  The guy thanking me for what I do in Front Royal was thanking me for being a tree warden; we had a long chat after I'd finished recording.

This was an astoundingly unique event, and I'm so glad we went. It was also the first time all 100 blocks had been used together. South Carolina Botanical Gardens was supposed to have this honor, but the day was rained out, so Blandy became the inaugural host. Other events have only used 50 or 60 of the blocks. The installations were funded by grants from New Music USA and the North Carolina Arts Council. A superb  recording is on this link.