A little mountain music

The mountains are always famed for their music. I guess people kinda had nothing else to do so they entertained themselves with song. Our first real foray into the mountain music scene was accompanying my sister Susie's friend Amy to her Marimba class. Really? Marimba? What even is that? We drove up Ridge Road north of Nederland to the house where Amy's Marimba band meets. First of all, the house was amazing. It was set on a long drive all to itself. Modern and angular with gorgeous views of the mountains from a nice open porch that had hummingbirds nesting along strings of christmas lights. The back room of the house was surrounded by windows pulling in that view. Its curve and high ceilings made a perfect room to support the 10 or so xylophones of various sizes that made up the marimba band. The sounds of something like Under the Sea from the Little Mermaid let us know that the band was already playing when we walked up. I was surprised at the variety and size of the different instruments. The bass had keys that were maybe 6 inches or more in width, the next smallest was the baritone that Amy was playing for that first song, then tenor and I assume an alto and soprano. The owners of the house were also the craftsmen who had made the instruments. In addition to marimbas, the room contained mountain dulcimers and hammer dulcimers all around that had also been made in house. The music blended simple tone combinations and rhythms from each individual instrument into a really complex symphony with a great beat when all put together. As soon as we walked into the room, Wee sidled right up to Amy and started dancing. The beat was contagious and we all had to move a little at one point or another. And this is what the mountain people do all the time.

The other easy place to find music was in Boulder. Starting with ZimFest at the Boulder Farmers market with a little more marimba style Zimbabwe themed tunes. Then to Band on the Bricks on the Pearl Street Mall. Pearl Street sometimes reminds me of the one Gilmore Girls episode where Stars Hollow is invaded by minstrels - except it's always that way. We ran into no less than 5 banjo players on our way to the main band that had its own banjo, a punk looking lead singer and a couple southern style guitarists. Just next to the main musicians stage was where the break dancers hung out. Wee and Amy were particularly captivated. Wee has always loved break dancing and wouldn't surprise me if he was one of those kids in a few years. Amy was just comparing these kids and their head spinning passion to her own snow/skateboarding kids. A block or so past this stage was where we encountered a bell and suspender clad group of people who were clearly getting ready to do some kind of traditional dance (who else wears suspenders?). But they were also carrying sticks. What? But then they started their Cotswald England based dancing and showed us that sticks are not just for martial arts anymore. Accordian, drum, and fife supplied the music as they danced clacking and waving their sticks in synchronicity. More mountain fun I guess.