The term Aeolian harp, originating in ancient Greek mythology, is named after Aeolus, the Greek god of the wind. From the time of Homer (The Iliad and The Odyssey) to the present day, the Aeolian harp has been favored in music literature and art. It is an instrument played by the wind without any human intervention. These instruments can range in size from small ones placed in open windows, to monumental sculptures placed on windy mountain ridges. These instruments existed in ancient times and still exist today. The most impressive ones consist of large sculptures made from a variety of materials and are both objects of beautiful art as well as sources of enchanting music. I know; I was once enchanted by one. My first encounter with an Aeolian harp occurred while I was doing field research in the mountains of Big Sur, California, where I had been contracted to conduct surveys of old growth giant redwood trees. Working my way towards one of the countless ridgelines that make this area famous, I thought I heard something unusual. The wind, in high mountain passes has its own special music. It is never quite the same and varies markedly depending on terrain. What I heard sounded like the wind but was subtly different. It was random and chaotic like the wind but had a chord-like quality. I wondered if it might be a cave entrance, but the maps showed no caves in the area. Oh, well, I thought, it is just my imagination. As I continued onward, however, there was soon no doubt. The sound was beautiful and very eerie. There was a base note, almost felt rather than heard, similar to an Australian didgeridoo. Random chords would sound that blended perfectly with the wind but had no pattern. I was mesmerized by the sound and bewildered as to its origin. Abruptly, through a clearing in the trees, I came upon an isolated ranch, too small to show on the maps. Right in front of me was the source of the sound I had been hearing. It was a tall, welded, and polished metal sculpture, about twenty feet high. The structure was ingeniously designed with numerous open chambers placed so that the wind passing through them created the sounds I had been hearing. This venue, unfortunately, is not suited to lengthy narrative. So suffice it to say that later events revealed that this ranch was the home of an artist, who made Aeolian harps for a living. This artist was a very intriguing woman who was every bit as interesting as the harps she made. If you want to hear what an Aeolian harp sounds like go here: http://www.harmonicwindharps.com/ (Note – I am in no way affiliated with this company; I reference it only so you can hear the sounds). Created in Ultra Fractal