The Singing Oak

This guide to the Singing Oak in New Orleans' City Park starts with a century-old live oak that stands silent until wind off Big Lake sets its hanging aluminum pipes moving. You'll hear how local artist Jim Hart turned an ordinary shade tree into this installation, hanging chime after chime to draw people to a quiet corner near the art museum, and why he tuned every pipe to the same five-note scale rooted in West African gospel and New Orleans jazz. Listen for the low pipes catching the first gust, with the smaller ones answering half a beat behind.