'Bach to Nature' - Pianos in Four Santa Clara County Parks!

From Santa Clara County Parks:

We have joined in partnership with two local artists Dean Mermell and Mauro Di Nucci of Sunset Piano, and DC Pianosof Berkeley which donated the instruments, to create their Opus 3 and to bring music into our lives and parks for the next month.

Four beautiful and historic upright pianos have been placed in aesthetic locations for our visitors to discover! Anyone is welcome to play them, to marvel at the novelty of finding an iconic instrument in an unlikely location.

The pianos are located in four parks Vasona, Sanborn, Alviso Marina, and Ed Levin. Each location was chosen for its accessibility to visitors and the artistic scene it will create.

At Vasona, you can find the piano near the sycamore tree by the playground where the melodies can be heard and accompany the melodic voices of children at play…or echo against the shrill whistle of the rail car…where bicyclists will finally slow their pace to stop and tickle the ivories. Crowds were drawing near even before the piano was secured in its temporary home.

At Sanborn, the Sequoia/Peterson area welcomes the music. Already an artistic park with the presence of the majestic Peterson Grove and the bawdy voices of Shady Shakespeare, the upright adds nostalgic and comfort as it is nestled near the antique farm equipment. The deep, browns of the instrument echo the rusty comfort of the equipment. Visitors can feel like they are sitting around a country home at the end of a long day’s work.

Alviso Marina is the perfect location to accompany the sounds of the marsh, as it is located on the east viewing deck near the bike path. Music connects us all and this installation exemplifies that…shy but eager fingers tickled the keys just moments after the piano found its temporary home.

Local resident Jon Tillman was passing with his bright eyed, impressionable twins during the installation…he engaged us, even helped move and settle the instrument. He talked about his musical background and what music has meant to him. He shared his desire to instill that with his children. And once in place, he and artist Mauro Di Nucci encouraged the children to play…even the tentative sounds of untrained hands transported us to another place…provided the perfect accompaniment to scene…colored it somehow. The instrument will remain at the Park until after Day on the Bay on October 12th.

Ed Levin houses the most beautiful piano, near Sandy Wool Lake. This dramatic location beneath the multi-armed tree provides stunning views of the golden hills, lets the sound soar with the hang gliders, and provides the background music for a leisurely equestrian ride. Dramatic shading creates a feeling of being in an old Speakeasy where all are welcome to share a story, a song, a smile, a hope. Arborists would treasure the natural amphitheater provided by the branches covering the instrument, welcoming all to sit and join in the harmony of the scene.

The pianos will be in place for the next month.

Bring your family, invite your friends, colleagues, social groups, churches, etc. to come Bach to Nature and experience it first-hand. Have brown bag lunches with your co-workers and staff. There is no better performance venue for budding artists or passionate amateurs, your treasured family sing-a-longs or your grandparent’s favorite song, than our beautiful parks.

Share your photos with us and we will share them on Facebook. Friend us on Facebook atfacebook.com/santaclaracountyparks to share your photos and tag us with #santaclaracountyparks #backtonature or with any of the individual park names. Visit our partner websites to learn more about this artistic project and the documentary being filmed about it as well.

This article is available via Santa Clara County Parks’ website online.

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• Pianos pop up in Santa Clara County parks