Garden Of The Gods: A Song History
"Garden Of The Gods," subtitled "A Suite For Mountain Dulcimer," appears in Bing Futch's tablature collection All Over The Map, where the DulcimerDownloads listing sets it in DAD tuning and credits Futch as composer.[1] The book is published by J.O.B. Entertainment, and the download pairs the tablature with MP3 recordings of the songs.[1] On his own site Futch describes the book as a companion to his first dulcimer album, Dulcimerica: Volume 1, but he places "Garden of the Gods" among his other works joining the album pieces rather than among the pieces the site says the album featured.[2] The sources consulted here do not say when Futch wrote the suite, how it is divided, or whether he has released it on an album.[1][2]
Timothy H. O'Sullivan, Castellated Sand-Bluffs, Fortification Rock, albumen silver print from glass negative, 1871. Shown for its rock formations; it is not the Colorado Springs park and has no connection to the suite.
Futch lives in Orlando, Florida, and performs Americana on mountain dulcimer, Native American flute and ukulele, with a repertoire that ranges from blues and roots-rock originals to Disney covers.[3] At the 2016 International Blues Challenge in Memphis he reached the finals and won the Solo/Duo "Best Guitarist" award, playing only mountain dulcimer.[3] His site adds that much of his work goes into Dulcimerica, a long-running YouTube video series, and that he has written several books, including Method For Beginning Mountain Dulcimer.[4]
As background only, Garden of the Gods is also the name of a city-owned park in Colorado Springs known for its towering red rock formations, which the children of railroad magnate Charles Elliot Perkins gave to the city in 1909 to honor his wish that the land stay free and open to everyone for all time.[5] The park is a National Natural Landmark, recognized as such by the Department of the Interior.[5] No connection between the park and the suite is implied: the sources consulted here do not say what the title refers to or what the music depicts.[1][2]
Sources
- Bing Futch: "All Over The Map".
- Bing Futch: "All Over The Map: Dulcimerica Volume 1".
- DulcimerDownloads: "Bing Futch".
- Bing Futch: "Bio".
- City of Colorado Springs: "Garden of the Gods Park".
- Image: Timothy H. O'Sullivan, Castellated Sand-Bluffs, Fortification Rock, albumen silver print from glass negative, 1871. The Metropolitan Museum of Art.