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# millenium park ribbon cutting #
the opening weekend of millenium park here in chicago was such a festive occasion. besides there being a ton of people, the city hired musicians, magicians, mimes, security guards, and food vendors to keep the crowds entertained.
old town school's drumming around the globe is teaching people to drum. an instructor explains to an audience volunteer when to hit the drum, as a sitar player and a keyboardist play repetitive music. the audience members clap for the first person. in the background you can hear a security guard's radio and the sounds of cameras taking photos while a new person learn to drum. there is a loud binging noise, another instrument, that is a little too loud. many people are standing around enjoying the music while others are passing by.
one man, the downtown sound, is playing an accordion and singing a song (a polka) about polka and beer. compared to the drumming lessons very few people are standing around him so there is hardly any crowd noise. the few who are listening are dancing.
the sounds of the magician/balloon artist, david kovac, making a balloon for a young girl in the audience named talia. as he makes a balloon with his automatic balloon buoy (an air machine that blows up the balloons), there is some slight feedback in the speakers as a result of the sound. just like any smart balloon artist, he waits to hear suggestions from the audience about what balloon animal he should make before committing to exactly what his balloon animal is. toward the end, in the distance you can hear a little drumming from a different performance. his suit, which he mentions, is loud but stylish.
minianka african drum & dance ensemble plays music as people stand around a dance floor. the music was great, it is hard to believe there was no one dancing.
(this sound clip is fairly long, 16 minutes)
people in the crowd talk, children play, and cell phones ring. after a quick introduction, the mayor, richard m. daley, speaks about the park and what it means to chicago, comparing it to other cities. the mayor then introduces john brian who speaks a little about the park and the public private partnership that made the building of the park a reality. a friendly group of people offer me a spot on their blanket, but i need to stand to get a decent recording, so i kindly refuse. cindy pritzker is up next and has her say before bill daley has his. music of the grant park symphony and orchestra begins and i make my way out of the park.
As usual, pictures can be found here.
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