NATURES ORCHESTRA

 NATURES ORCHESTRA

 

LT COL NOEL ELLIS

09/VI/2024

 

At 5 in the morning, the air is still warm in the Suncity. Add another hour and allow the sun to peep over the horizon, hot air becomes hotter. Let another hour pass, the third superlative of hot stands.

Be that as it may. An early morning walk is time to declutter the mind & enjoy the ‘sounds of silence’, listen to nature's orchestra play the warming up notes. Imagine being in the audience of nature's amphitheatre.

At times you meet a fellow morning walker and wish him. Many do not even look at you. The reason is the “Kaan-Khajura” better known as ‘ear plugs’. They wish you back only if they notice you as if ‘maine unki ghore tapasya bhang kar di ho’.

What do they listen to? Probably Bhajans, Hymns, Kirtans, Updesh, Shabad, which is definitely required for inner peace. Aim is to listen to music for the soul. Whatever be your preference, you are most welcome to continue, no sweat. I prefer to walk with that gadget called mobile on silent mode.

I don’t think those people really enjoy what is playing. My hunch says their attention is so sidetracked that they miss out on the flowers, greenery, birds and sounds of nature, under the high volume plugged in the ears. I wish, when they come outdoors people listen, watch and see things in nature. Music or whatever can be heard at more convenient places.

One tends to forget the music that nature plays for us. The rhythm, pitch and scale may vary, but the notes are so beautifully crooned. That resultant melody is actual food for the soul & real food of love.

Imagine, ‘reveille’ being sounded by a bunch of sparrows. Loud as loud can be. They do not follow the buglers' notes but chant their notes till they have woken up all fellow sparrows and birds. Mind you their ‘start time’ can be used to synchronise watches.

The ‘real buglers’ come into action around the same time. The ‘Koels’. Their ‘Kohoos’ sound as if there is a question answer session going on. Or maybe they exchange notes of the previous day. The ‘good’, the ‘bad’ and the ‘ugly’, for all fellow Koel’s to know what lies in store.

In between, the base players called the crows erupt in a cacophony to ‘crow-crow’ to each other. Their ‘caw-caw’ seems a little off note but gels in the overall orchestra. It is just that the man on the sound console gives their calls more priority.

Bulbuls and the Sunbirds tweet, adding a sprinkle of self-made melodies. Though they sing solo, somehow their notes resonate. The final outcome is a sweet melodious ghazal of sorts.

Doves and Pigeons can’t be left behind. They too are part of the ensemble. Gutargoon, and coo-coo are like playing ‘sarangi’ in a western music concert. The trend of amalgamation of all kinds of musical instruments is already there called ‘fusion music’. They do not sound off note at all, but add to the mix.

Kingfishers have a very ‘sharp scale’. They sing like ‘acid rock’ singers. Very few have an ear for that. Their high-pitched notes can be heard from a distance as if the bottom most string of an electric guitar has been strummed and put on echo to resonate.

The ‘Kootri’ bird with its Kootri… sound looks like rap being added to the melody. The ‘duo’ sing in unison making music so pleasing to the ears.

In between, the Partridges and the Parakeets pop in so that their voices are not subdued. Well, if they stay at the fringes of the orchestra, their calls are bound to sound faint.

The percussionists are the rustle of the leaves, the thumping of the dry fruit pods and falling leaves. Their beats pulsate at their own rhythm and follow patterns unheard by mankind, but are perfect.

The conductor of the orchestra is the Peacock. Their loud calls moderate all other bird calls. Everyone goes silent to listen to just them. By far, they are the most beautiful conductors and vocalists of nature's orchestra. Once they muster together, they make unforgettable melodies.

Suddenly, there is an interruption when you hear, “who let the dogs out… woof-woof”. The orchestra continues to play uninterrupted. The tempo increases if the birds see a cat. They warn each other without disturbing the song.

By evening the participants are tired of singing. A drink and a bite are needed for all the energy spent creating their compositions. They need to clear their throats and find a perch to rest their instruments to be able to sing for us another day. Music will be played under all circumstances.

What is your preference, nature's orchestra or Kaan-Khajura? I wonder!!!!!!!

 

JAI HIND

© ® NOEL ELLIS