wildlife wildflowers and waterfalls

The prairie has a voice.  Often a quiet whisper. 

There are times when the bubbling spring water, neigh of horses, song of birds, and distant tuneful call of cattle roll out over the soft green flint hills, whirl with the prairie wind and return sounding like a symphony. 

On Saturday June 13th it was a symphony—Symphony in the Flint Hills, 2009. 

Nestled in a cove in the Upper Turkey Creek Pasture of the Doyle Land and Cattle Company, Inc. in Chase County, Kansas, where the endless view of the rolling hills meet the blue sky, the Kansas City Symphony and the native inhabitants captured the hearts of 6,000 guests of owners Randy and Judy Mills.

From a distance, the symphony area appears as low clouds on the horizon.  The meandering walk to the symphony site includes a bridge over a clear sparkling spring, inviting all to stop and dangle feet in the cold water.   Our duties as two of over 500 volunteers helping to make the concert possible beckons so we pause, wish and continue on.

Abby Dechant, Symphony seating coordinator, directs us to our assigned jobs.  Among other duties, we prepare seating for 26 sponsors and 138 patrons.  Without these contributors, the concert would not be possible. The stage sits at the bottom of a long sloping hillside.  There is no bad seat whether on lawn chair, blanket or special front row chair.

Our four-hour shift soon over, we have time to visit afternoon activities before the concert.

Linzy and Lucy, 7-year old black draft horse sisters, driven by Larry Patton and watched over by experienced sidesaddle rider Terrie Todd, help us understand why many early settlers walked instead of rode in their covered wagons.

In the Butterfly Tent, Randy and Judy Mills tell us more about their operation.   Their ranch is named after Patrick Doyle the first settler in Marion County.  Their current home, built in 1882 by Mr. Doyle, is on the National Register of Historic Places. 

Randy Mills tells of the benefit of fire in maintaining the prairie. My observation is the Flint Hills saying, “Take care of the grass and it will take care of you” is evident in their pasture.  Proper grass care as well as their high quality controlled and documented cattle breeding program makes them successful “current stewards” of the Hills.

We attend educational programs explaining the native grasses and birds that inhabit them, the many prolific natural springs, and archeological formations. It is the Evening Primrose Tent with its “Prairie as Muse” presentations that most inspire my day.  TerryLee Whetstone, a Cheyenne, plays Native American flute music with such meaning that I only had to close my eyes to slip back in time. 

Writers Steven Hind, Jim Hoy and Denise Low read their poems, eloquently telling of their feelings of beauty and love of Kansas in general and Flint Hills specifically. HC Palmer, poet and Leon Loughridge have collaborated in publishing their artistic descriptions by poem and woodblock prints of the landscapes of the Flint Hills. Loughridge, a Colorado artist tells of his love of the region and its people despite his early stereotyped feelings of Kansas' flat terrain. I feel honored to have these professional and talented writers share their work and inspirations. A perfect prelude to the anticipated final program of the day, the concert.

My words cannot describe the beauty of a full orchestra in this setting.  The sound system enables the entire hillside to hear the smallest, quietest note and as well as the full expression of each instrument.  Copeland, Grofe, Bernstein, Barry.  All recognized music even to an inexperienced ear such as mine.  For me, Director Steven Jarvi’s final presentation of John Berry’s Dances with Wolves Suite was especially moving when Native American riders circled the site then ascended the nearby hill to silhouette against the sky as the last notes rolled across the valley.

Randy Mills said earlier in the day, “I like to be out here by myself.  Early in the morning on a horse or in a pickup. It’s quiet.” Judy quickly added, “It’s God’s Country.”   For a split second, even among thousands of others before the applause erupted,  I for one and perhaps many others at the 2009 Symphony in the Flint Hills shared Randy and Judy’s feeling of quietly being by ourselves with nature. 

posted by Linda  # 9:31 AM