Spitball Army

This evening on MSNBC’s “Countdown with Keith Olbermann,” Mr. Olbermann ridiculed an Indian man for attempting to create music by blowing on a leaf.  Come on, Dude, haven’t you ever heard someone create music – beautiful music – by placing a leaf between their lips and expelling air across it?  Well, then, check this out:

[audio:Kronos_Quartet___Perfidia.mp3]
“Perfidia” performed by the Kronos Quartet

In this performance, a one-armed Mexican street musician named Carlos Garcia plays the dreamy melody on an ivy leaf (leaf-blowing begins at about 0:55).  To these ears, the piece sounds as if it is transporting me on a downy cloud onto a 1930s movie set.  Or the Club Tropicana.  Truly sublime.

I have some wild ivy taking over a corner of my backyard.  There are leaves everywhere!  Why don’t you all come over and we’ll start an orchestra?