The instrument was designed and built by Majorie and Edward "Mick" Mackey (the instrument's name is a playful riff on "Mickey," though often associated with the Macky family for whom the nearby Macky Auditorium is named). However, the concept of a lithophone is ancient. The concept of striking stones to make music dates back thousands of years, but the Macky Mcky is a feat of modern acoustic engineering.
Because the instrument is located outdoors, the acoustics change with the weather. On a humid day, the sandstone may absorb moisture, slightly dampening the pitch and tone. On a dry, crisp Colorado morning, the notes ring out with crystalline clarity. It is an instrument that breathes with its environment. macky macky piano
It stands as a bridge between the ancient and the modern, between the earth and the artist. It is a monument not just to the Masons who donated it, but to the human desire to find music in everything—even in a pile of rocks. Whether you are a trained pianist or a toddler with a stick, the Macky Mcky offers a unique invitation: strike the stone, and hear the world sing back. The instrument was designed and built by Majorie