Years ago when my four children were at home and all taking music lessons, we sometimes all played together. One Christmas I orchestrated favorite Christmas carols so that the whole family - uncles, aunts, cousins - could play all together.
Recently I came across a wonderful instrument, the Chimalong made by Woodstock Chimes, in a children's store here in town. I purchased one, and immediately fell in love with it. The Chimalong is well-tuned, with a beautiful tone. It is played as a percussion instrument: that is, there are two plastic ball-top mallets, so a player can play both melody and harmony - or can play rhythms within the melodic line.
Soon, a tune woke me in the middle of the night. I got up at 3 a.m. and replaced the "B" chime with the "B Flat" chime, and began to play that mysterious magical modal tune. Soon I was playing a harmony part along with the melody. My neighbors ask me what it is I'm playing, and then ask me to play it again.
Today I'm awaiting the arrival of three of my eight grandchildren: they're in a military family, on leave. I have toys in the "children's corner" of my living room, and games and puzzles on the game shelf. I've got a soccer ball with flags of all the nations on it, and a plastic ball and bat. And I've got Chimalongs! This morning I picked up three more Chimalongs, and my hopes for a family orchestra of chimers and whatever else we can add in, soared. My ex and his wife, a sister-friend and good co-grandma, are both fine musicians. A musical uncle is stopping by. And I've got my guitar and mandolin and dulcimer and recorders and drum and rattles and piano....I think we might just pull off a bit of family orchestra.
Beyond that, I'm so enthusiastic about the musical and soul value of the Chimalong that I'm thinking of offering a class or two in it for villagers. Maybe one class for little ones, and another for all ages. That will develop as it will. The whole thing is quite magical, I feel, and that first tune may be leading me in all kinds of wonderful directions. All I know is, that I can hear in my inner ear something of what such an orchestra sounds like, and my heart is right there, ready to help it become a reality.
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Comments: 10
and I just LOVE your ICON by the way.
Blessings ~
Rene
Tami, we'll have to share music info.
Jan - yes! Just got back from the airport - they're safe and sound and HERE in town - over at the other grandparents' getting settled in and fed.
Today I spent hours organizing family photos, getting them in those multiphoto frames, and tacking them up in the Children's Corner of my living room - so when any of my grandchildren come to visit they can see their cousins as babies and as they are now; and they can see their parents as they were way back then......The Chimalong orchestra dream is something I feel will happen as a part of all that I've just written. In part that is due to the fact that not only did my ex and I give the children music lessons, but their Great-Grandma loves music and will be a rapt audience for whatever they learn to play. There's something good we all know can come out of this mix.
In the meantime, must remember to find a way to get the soccer ball pumped up. There are uncles and nephews who love soccer and I've got a big backyard.
big smiles!