Where words fail, music speaks: so said Hans Christian Anderson. And when Leanne invited me to host Monochrome Madness for One Week Only, I thought Music might be a good theme. We bloggers come from all over the world. Though many of us, in many nations, have English as our first language, there are dozens of different ones in the WordPress melting pot. But we can all enjoy music together, whether singing, playing instruments, or dancing, Or all of the above at once. Let’s do it.
My header image was taken at the neighbourhood Festa Major in Gràcia, Barcelona. It’s out of focus, and I don’t care. It captures I think the verve and enjoyment of those performing drummers.
Here are some dancers in neighbourhood festivals: in Catalonia; and in England – Morris Men.


Instrument players now. The drummer accompanying the Morris dancers; drummers celebrating Chusak in South Korea, and brass players marching in London in those heady optimistic days when some of us still thought Brexit might not happen.



Of course some instrumentalists out in the street are trying to earn a living. Here are buskers in Ripon and Bath.


And a harpist playing at a friend’s wedding in the grounds of the ruined Abbey at Jervaulx ….

Here are singers in Seville, relying simply on the beauty of their voices; and a singer-instrumentalist, heavily dependent on a supply of electricity to produce a sound.


Of course, first you have to have your instrument. Here’s a music shop in Málaga.

This thrush is a musician from the natural world. He commandeers a high branch here, spring after spring, and simply sings his heart out from early morning to early evening, almost without stopping. I wish you could hear him.

And while we’re in the Great Outdoors, is there anything more musical than a tinkling and plashing stream, tumbling tunefully over rocks?



Please do join in with your own musical offerings. And link back both to this post, and to Leanne’s site too, here.
Lovely idea for a universal theme! The harpist is such a romantic shot.
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It was a memorable interlude. Quite special.
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Some excellent musicians here. The harpest is lovely. We don’t see thrushes here, no idea why not as I have seen them in Godolphin garden. Blackbirds have a beautiful song, as do wrens and robins.
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Luckily, we have all four in abundance. Peter said the same about thrushes. Odd! I wonder why they’ve disappeared for you both?
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I have no idea and it’s not as though I have a shortage in snails for them to eat!
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ExACTly. Thrushes et al have a job to do!
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I love the header photo. I agree it really captures the essence of the enjoyment of music. Oh, for the wings, for the wings (and song) of a thrush – we haven’t seen one for over two years!
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Nooo! That’s dreadful. They’re still (reasonably) common here.
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We have a selection of birds, from wrens to Buzzards, but thrushes seem to have deserted us.
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So strange. I wonder why? Jude in Cornwall said the same.
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Many areas reportedly have no sparrows, but we have them in abundance.
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As do we. Yes, it’s all very odd.
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lots of really beautiful images. I think my favorite is the harp.
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Ah, Dawn, that was so perfect for an accompaniment to a marriage.
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Really beautiful photos. I feel I can hear the rhythms and joy of the dancers.
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Well, you know how the Spanish like to party. Quite irrepressible!
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Lovely collection. I love your opening shot – so much energy. You can tell they are having a ball.
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Oh they were, Anabel!
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And do you remember the Busker of Bath?
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I do, he is in one of my pictures too but as a very small detail in a view of the abbey.
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Probably the right sort of ‘billing’ to give him!
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Music is such a powerful force- a positive impact no matter what emotions you are going through.
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Absolutely. It soothes, energises and consoles: whatever we need, music can provide.
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Good theme, Margaret. Music soothing the savage beast.
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Beast and Breast both!
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A brilliant reflection on how music brings us together. Your out-of-focus banner photo is a work of art. I love how “photography” serendipity creates amazing moments.
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it does indeed. In a way the ‘perfect’ photo might not have.
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What a great theme, Margaret! I’ll have to put on my thinking cap and join in. Wonderful and vibrant images. I can almost hear the music/sound in each one of them.
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Oh thanks so much Egidio And yes, please join in.
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Here is my entry for this wonderful challenge:
https://throughbrazilianeyes.com/capturing-the-music-one-shade-at-a-time/
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As you know, I’ve found it and loved it. I’ll revisit again later.
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Thank you.
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These are wonderful Margaret. A few things I wouldn’t have thought of, especially the bird. Great post.
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Thanks so much Leanne. Take a bow though. It’s you who got me thinking about monochrome and appreciating it a lot.
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A wonderful post and theme for MM Margaret. I was prepared, well I thought about it. Later today perhaps when it’s too hot to be outside
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Do you mind, Brian? It’s 1 degree here … But I bet this is a post you could have at least a dozen entries for!
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I could have done a few for sure Margaret. I am sweating just siting. It’s too hot and humid
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We’re never happy, are we?
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Never
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Finally was able to get myself sorted to do a post
https://bushboy.blog/2024/11/27/ive-got-the-music-in-me/
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I knew you’d come up with the goods Brian. Yours is a great post.
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👍😀
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What a wonderful theme Margaret. I could hear the joy and the music through your images. Here is mine: https://wanderingteresa.com/61113-2/
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I loved it! As you’ll see from my comment.
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Thanks my friend!
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What a marvellous post, Margaret! Love that harpist
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She was special. And only a schoolgirl too.
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Wow!
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What a lovely theme. As you say, universal.
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I thought so. And lots of lovely examples have been posted.
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Love this, Margaret. The harpist is just an amazing shot! Thrushes – how strange they are gone! Indeed they sing beautifully.
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Great to have you hosting Monochrome Madness and with such an excellent theme! I love the energy in your first shot, but I’m left wondering how that Ripon busker gets his piano into position on the streets. Wouldn’t a guitar be easier?!
Here are some from me: https://www.toonsarah-travels.blog/gallery-a-universal-language-in-black-and-white/
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That street piano? Don’t ask. I only saw it the once, and as far as I know, it didn’t come from one of the neighbouring shops. But he attracted interest alright. Off to look at your post now.
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What a wonderful variety!
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Thank you Dawn.
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What a beautiful post on the wonders of music. Music has a powerful impact on us humans. When my brother was gravely ill with Lewy Body Dementia I flew to Atlanta to say good-bye. He couldn’t hold his head up or recognize anyone. They had a musician come to sing for the patients. My brother was just sitting there, but I saw his fingers and feet move to the beat.
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What a moving exerience that must have been. Thanks for sharing it.
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A great jaunt through some musical images! Here’s my post: https://suejudd.com/2024/11/29/music/
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Thanks Sue x 2!
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oh my. What a wonderful spread of musical activity. And I agree that first unfocused shot works really well.
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Thanks Debbie. We’re all in need of a spot of music just now aren’t we?
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What a creative response to the theme and clever to include ‘music’ in nature. The monochrome works so well. I love the way you juxtapose the acoustic singers with the wired-in musician. The photo of him connected up with all those electrical cords is almost comical in its effect. Great perception on your part I think 🙂
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It just tickled me. He’d have been lost in a power cut!
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I love that you are co-hosting this week. I love that you showed music from us human and music found in nature 😀 😀 Terrific photos.
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Thanks Cee. I’m happy that you are reading lots of posts too!
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