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The Sound of Music LbNA #27494

Owner:Adoptable
Plant date:Nov 25, 2006
Location:
City:Midland
County:Midland
State:Michigan
Boxes:1
Planted by:Books & Traveling
Found by: EverAfter83
Last found:Nov 4, 2012
Status:FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFaa
Last edited:Nov 25, 2006
Re-planted with a new logbook 7/1/08!

Begin at the Farmer’s Market in Downtown Midland. Listen, can you hear any music?

This famous film was originally a book, The Story of the Trapp Family Singers by Maria von Trapp. It was also adapted into two successful German films before Rodgers and Hammerstein added their musical talents. The story has world-wide appeal and has been adapted for Japanese and Austrailian audiences, among others; yet ironically, is not so widely known in Austria.

Walk up Ashman Street and turn left onto Main Street, past the Midland County Courthouse to the Santa House.

Did you know that Maria von Trapp actually has a cameo in the film? She is the elder of the two women in Austrian peasant garb who are in the background as Maria walks through a brick archway during "I Have Confidence."

You will be walking through an archway, too, if you want to find the sound of music. . . Look around you and try to find an archway (you may have to cross some streets).

Walk through the archway / sculpture into the Ned S. Arbury Park and follow the Dow diamonds; continue on the path.

"The hills are alive with the sound of music -- with songs they have sung for a thousand years. The hills fill my heart with the sound of music. My heart wants to sing every song it hears.

"My heart wants to beat like the wings of the birds that rise from the lake to the trees. My heart wants to sigh like a chime that flies from a church on a breeze; to laugh like a brook when it trips and falls over stones on its way; to sing through the night like a lark who is learning to pray. I go to the hills when my heart is lonely. I know I will hear what I've heard before. My heart will be blessed with the sound of music, and I'll sing once more."

Have you heard music yet? If you’re there on the hour, you may hear the chimes from the Santa House. Look to your left when the path ends, and go to the rotating diamond to learn a little about Midland’s history and connection with the Dow family.

The Dow family and their various companies / foundations have donated much to this region, especially in the way of financial help. Speaking of financial help, The Sound of Music is said to have saved 20th Century Fox. The film grossed over $158 million at the North American box office. Adjusted for ticket price inflation this is the equivalent of $911 million at 2006 prices, putting it third on the list of all time inflation adjusted box office hits according to boxofficemojo.com.

Money is a favorite thing of some people. . . My favorite song from the movie is “My Favorite Things”:
"Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens. Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens. Brown paper packages tied up with strings. These are a few of my favorite things. Cream colored ponies and crisp apple strudel. Door bells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles. Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings. These are a few of my favorite things. Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes. Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes. Silver white winters that melt into springs. These are a few of my favorite things. When the dog bites, when the bee stings, when I'm feeling sad, I simply remember my favorite things, and then I don't feel so bad."

Now turn around and look at the bronze (it originally was bronze) relief, “Midland, The City of Modern Explorers.” Find the plaque to the right of the monument and discover the author’s name. Now just to the left of the plaque, hidden behind the relief and under the ivy is your prize.

Remember to be discreet and hide the box well once you’re finished.