Music from Kite Hill!

It was a glorious spring afternoon. We walked slowly up the gentle slope of Kite Hill reveling in the clear fresh air and the bright green spring colors. In the distance we saw misty views of the Harlem and Hudson Valley and the Taconics. Part of the Overmountain-Columbia Land Conservancy, the Kite Hill Trail is located in Ancram, New York. This day was also my first musical improvisation of the season!

For those new to my blog; during the pandemic I started to bring my recorder, oboe and Native American flutes on our hikes. Since I could not play with others, it became an important creative outlet. I discovered that I was profoundly inspired by the beauty that surrounded me and a series of short improvisations were born! Even though I will be fortunate to meet with my groups Hevreh Ensemble and Winds in the Wilderness and start to rehearse and perform again, I plan to continue my improvisations in beautiful and inspiring settings. Later this week we will return to a beloved place, the Bryant Homestead in Cummington, MA. to search for yellow violets blooming by stream and see what melodies may transpire!

As Paul carried my recorder up the hill in his backpack, we were treated to an intricate symphony of bird calls.

The Overmountain Land Conservancy has placed nesting boxes all along the trail. The birds were busy tending to their nests and did not seem perturbed as we observed them rather closely. I saw birds with iridescent markings on their wings and heads and after checking a reference guide, believe that they may have been blue buntings. Their complex and lyrical calls were enthralling!

AND: Yesterday we returned to the William Cullen Bryant Homestead in Cummington, MA and found an illusive yellow violet. More about this in the next blog!

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!