Martha Colby

Coolo! I have just gotten one of my string quartet arrangements published and available for public use!  Bohemian Rhapsody, as played by the Lake String Quartet, is now available (or should be soon) for purchase where all online music is available for purchasing... 

If you are interested in any of my string arrangements, feel free to ask me directly.  

... and to top this off.. My manager, Boo, the bear... refuses to bathe until we are playing live again...  

So it is with a very heavy heart that I share that Yellowstone will have no music this summer.

  2020 and 2021 have been the first years for me in which I have not been immersed in music in some way, shape or form since.... maybe before I started playing the cello in 4th grade??? I'm not even sure of that because before I started cello lessons, I would bang and sing on the piano.. and before I started banging and singing on the piano, I would bang and sing on pots and pans...  That is not to say that I'm not working on any music, but I'm not living in a community of musicians and I am not performing nightly and trying to come up with clever arrangements of requests from you..

When I started at the Old Faithful Inn in 2011, it was a serious stretch for me to play solo -- let alone solo for 4 hours straight -- let alone solo for 4 hours straight and 5 nights a week.... and... I was hired as a pianist, sooooooo....  learning piano was a priority and a serious stress... I will never forget the night that one of our guests appeared and sat next to me.. She said "We have been enjoying your music so much... We have a room on the 3rd floor and have been listening to you from there every night and it has been wonderful!" and then she secretly whispered to  me "but just between you and me, the cellist is much better than the pianist".  I laughed my face off. I told her I couldn't agree more.  She looked mortified and said "Oh... are you the pianist as well????  I just meant... the selection of music... " it trailed off... I found it hilarious, and knew it to be true... I was definitely catching up on my piano skills that year, and every night was terrifying. I have made a lot of progress on that end, although there is always more to go, and always more to improve on the cello end as well. A couple of years later, a visitor from Australia met me in a group situation outside of the mezzanine... and he said "oh... are you the pianist???? That was wonderful.... but what's with that cello????? "  I laughed my head off of that too... 

I can't wait til I can laugh my head off again at comments like that... Perhaps Winter 21-22? 

Let us heal from this pandemic.

Now. 

This song has been making a resurgence  in my head lately. It's on my album "Across Two Rivers". Maggie Dubris wrote the lyrics for this one.  Thought I would share it today. 

Hello Dear Friends!

As my musical cohorts and I patiently await the green light to return live music to the historic lodges in Yellowstone National Park, I wanted to let you know that I am one of the 500+ cellists in Tony Roger's latest Covid Cello Project. This one is number 14 (!) - Camille Saint-Saens' Danse Bacchanale. There is a watch party for the live release scheduled for Saturday, the 19th (for me writing this right now - TOMORROW) at 1 pm Texas time (central time here in the USA). I'm excited to see/hear it. Every one of Tony's projects gets better and better, and he's put out all the stops for this one.  Here is the link:  https://youtu.be/iNEb_HlnEPQ

Don't worry if you can't watch the live release, it should be available on You Tube for many many moons to come. I hope you are having a wonderful day! 

Hello friends,

I wish I could say that Boo and I have retaken our post at the Old Faithful Inn, but unfortunately I am still hiding out in our employee dorms trying to keep the quality of life up for me and my fellow employees. If you miss the music in Yellowstone, I ask you to speak up to the area managers, front desk, tripadvisor.. whoever else seems appropriate.  I know I'm having a rough time without music, but there is nothing I can do to bring it back, other than playing for myself.  I thank you all for everything, and hope that we may meet again SOON!   xoxo

Hello Friends!

Time has been such an odd thing this season..  It seems like it keeps dragging on, yet it's already the end of September and now I need to start packing! Xanterra has opted to hold off on the music for this coming winter season so this will be my first season out of the park in a long time. Anyone know of any venues who might want a resident musician??  I would love any leads anyone might have... especially around New England so that I can help out my folks. It looks like  I need to work on my video chops as well as recording, mixing, mastering, cello, piano and vocals. I'll be busy, even if unemployed.  This too, shall pass. I wish you all love,  peace, ease, happiness and good fortune! 

Greetings and salutations from Yellowstone! 

I'm still here! Hurrah!! This is definitely not a year like any other and hopefully not like any to come. If you are planning on visiting the park, just know that it is not like the park you may be used to. Face masks are required inside of all buildings for your protection and for the protection of others. A lot of places are closed (like my beloved Inn!!! :( ), and there are limited numbers of people allowed inside buildings, so there are lines. Those of us who work here understand and share your frustration – please don't take your anger out on us! Worst of all – there is no music! I encourage you to write to Xanterra or post on Tripadvisor how much you miss the music and maybe add just how healing and soothing it would be for guests and employees alike (hint hint). I'd love to be employed this winter.... 

I am proud and astounded to say that we who work here have so far kept the COVID cases to two in the entire park. If you have ever experienced a Snow Lodge winter as an employee, or even as a guest, then you well know that what comes around goes around – to pretty much everyone. Some of us suspect that we may have had early exposure to COVID this past winter... But who knows? Anyhoo... I continue to wear my name tag and sanitize door knobs and am grateful that it seems to be helping. 

In my off time I have been working slowly but steadily on a new CD. I am getting ready to publish “Flying Daffodils” as a single, with a “B” side of a new song called “With Me, With You”. I was inspired to write the latter song by some dear friends of mine who lost one of their parents while in lockdown in nursing homes. My heart goes out to those who have lost loved ones and have not been able to be with them or to give them proper goodbyes. “With Me, With You” is meant to be a song for closure and for finding peace with an incredibly difficult situation. I am very close to being finished with the mix and it will be released soon. 

Recently I have been given permission to practice on my lovely friend, the Kawai piano, in the Inn. This is top secret, so don't tell anyone and I can't let you inside. I must say, the Inn gets really spooky without any lights on after dark...I've been playing by headlamp. 

Again, if you have any requests for the new album, let me know! So far I have at least partially in the cans my two new songs as well as Hallelujah and Purple Rain. I think I'll be working next on Both Sides Now and Cannon in D, as well as Last of the Mohicans. The Lake Quartet has also been starting in on some remote recording. This is all new territory for us, but we tried a Scott Joplin rag for our first distance recording, and it seems to have come out well. I have to get permission before I can post it, otherwise I'd include it in this post. 

In other excitement, Giantess geyser erupted for the first time since 2014 (so I've heard, and it clicks with my memory) and just last week the smoke from a wildfire started billowing from the Lone Star area – about 3 miles from the Old Faithful Village. Yeeks! Fortunately the wind has been blowing it away from us and we got a good soaking of rain a couple of nights ago, so it is holding steady at 850 acres and we are expecting to get some nighttime temps in the 20's soon, so I think we won't have to evacuate. To all those who have had to evacuate while remaining socially distanced and wearing masks, I send you my heartfelt prayers and wishes for well being. Well, that goes for all of you. 

May you be well. 

May you be free of suffering. 

May you be peaceful and at ease. 

May you be happy.

xox

Martha

Hello again from the Old Faithful Twilight Zone! It's a hot one today (at least for us - nearly 80 today in Old Faithful).  I have been faithfully sanitizing our employee living quarters so that no one spreads disease. Keeping my fingers crossed that I might be able to sit in my music corner again sometime. 

There have been a lot of bluebirds around this year, as well as the usual gangs of pocket gophers, marmots, coyotes and our resident bear with cub - and, let me not forget - our community of bison milling and grunting around.  They always put a smile on my face. 

During the elongated break I wrote a song called "Flying Daffodils", which is how my mom refers to goldfinches. Indeed, they do look like bright, happy, flying daffodils, so I was inspired to write something cheerful when everything continues to be rather messed up here on Planet Earth.  I also have been taking an online home recording and mixing course. Excellent course! Thanks to the Recording Revolution, my latest mix of this song is world's better than the first. I am giving you, dear friends and listeners, a sneak peek of my latest mix.  Let me know what you think! 

Greetings! Salutations! Happy Memorial Day.  I have just made a new season's resolution of posting and visiting my site much more often! For the past 10 years I have been blessed with performing regularly and barely having to lift a finger to promote my music. Some of you may have guessed that promotion is not my strong point... I'm attempting to turn over a new leaf. It can often be challenging with the slowest internet on earth, but I am optimistic about this summer since our staff is about 1/3 of normal, and visitation will be lower due to lack of lodging. 

Back when I was a child, one of my favorite books was "Fortunately, Unfortunately".  Here is the Martha C version as of May 25fth. 

Fortunately our winter season went on as scheduled and I enjoyed playing music. Perhaps you were there at some point?

Unfortunately the world caught an extreme virus and everything changed almost overnight. 

Fortunately I was able to stay with my parents for an extended period of time to help out and watch spring spring in CT. 

Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, Yellowstone is not having any live music this year. 

Fortunately I was offered a job at Old Faithful for the season anyhow.

Unfortunately I won't be playing music or giving body work. 

Fortunately i am back in the park that I love oh so dearly. 

I shall pause it here. I have had multiple requests for a new CD including a lot of the looping tunes that I play in the Inn and at the Snow Lodge.  My goal over this summer is to get that recorded! Over the break I signed up for a bunch of various online classes -- one of which being a home recording and mixing course, so we'll see how I do on my own.  Let me know if there is a particular song you would like to hear on the recording. 

Sending you all warm wishes.