When preparing for a vacation I look at two things: the geocaching website and online lists of roadside attractions. These are the quaint, quirky, and cool things that used to make family road trips bearable. Now, they have all been bypassed by interstates. Imagine my surprise when one of my favorite roadside websites listed New Orleans' own Singing Oak as a must see.
The Singing Oak is a series of seven wind chimes ranging in length from 30 inches to 14 feet arranged in a 100+ year old live oak. The chimes are tuned to a pentatonic scale common to both spirituals and jazz, which touches the musical soul of our city. It is difficult to see all seven chimes, as they have been painted a matte black to help them fade into the shadows and allow the illusion that it is the oak, rather than man, that has created the music. My favorite is the striker for the 14 foot chimes. Take a close look at the object used.
Artist Jim Hart created this wonderful and relaxing location during the rebirth of City Park following Katrina. It was created to showcase harmony between nature and man, a necessary fact of life in southern Louisiana. The oak's song changes with the weather. On a summer day there may only be the faintest hint of a tune, as summer means hot, still days. In a light breeze, the oak emits a calm, serene tune that adds to the relaxing act of sitting under an ancient tree. And when the weather kicks up, the tree really lets it rip in a wild song. While setting this cache, I had the pleasure of hearing this full force music when a storm blew in sending me running for a nearby shelter. I will tell you 14 foot long bass chimes pounding out a rhythm sure sound an awful lot like a warning to take cover.
When searching for this cache, it would be best to take a seat and listen to the Singing Oak.