Ever had a hankering to play Papilio bells, Cajon drums, a bell lyre, or Tembos—or even find out what the heck they are? Last fall, residents of Syracuse, New York had a chance to try out these and more, when Symphoria joined with the Connective Corridor and the City of Syracuse to install musical instruments for community use in three outdoor locations. The Connective Corridor is a two-mile route that cost $47 million and connects Syracuse University with downtown. The permanent music clusters are part of a larger mission to bring music into the community. The durable instruments are ADA-accessible, vandal-resistant, and designed to survive outdoors. Groups of up to four people at a time can play the Papilio bells, tubular suspended pipes that span more than eight feet in a graceful arc. The three music clusters were funded by a $41,415 grant from the Regional Economic Development Council. Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner said the installations “enhance our streetscape and put music into the hands of more people.” Symphoria, a successor orchestra to the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra, has been in operation since 2012.
