On Thursday, as I was leaving my guitar lesson, my instructor said, “Marie, if you’re not doing anything this weekend my band is playing at this event at the Belgian Education Center. You should come watch. It’s called Music in the Trees”. I had never heard of the Belgian Education Center, but Music in the Trees sounded like something right up my alley. I got home, did some googling, and discovered that the Spanish translation had done him wrong and it was the Belwin Educational Site holding the event, but he sure was right about Music in the Trees.
Music in the Trees is an annual event where they have two different areas set up in this gorgeous red pine forest. The musicians are perched in tree stands 15-20 feet up as the audience watches and listens from the forest floor. I knew this was something I needed to experience. I texted my sister-in-law Julie, discovered that she not only knew about the event, but had been wanting to go for years! Perfect!
Let me tell you…this event is going to be permanently etched on my calendar from now on. It was magical. There was something about sitting there…looking up into the trees…watching them sway back and forth. Hearing the music mixed in with the occasional call of a hawk and the buzz of the cicadas. It felt like we were somehow getting to listen to the music as it was always meant to be. No microphones…just music in harmony with nature.
My instructor’s band, Alma Andina, finished off the afternoon. They did play on the ground with microphones, but their music fit perfectly with the spirit of the day. A celebration of “pachamama”. They incorporated beautiful costumes into their music that make me curious to do more research into the culture and learn the stories portrayed by some of the songs. So much talent…and a perfect send-off into the week.
Time in nature…music…quality time with my sister-in-law…all just what I needed right now.
Love, Tennis, and Cancer 