The
tree continued its celebrity this week with a musical celebration by 61
Arlington students and 2007 Grammy nominee Deborah Henson-Conant. The
group performed two of Henson-Conant's original songs, Belinda and
Birth'A Bertha, both named and written specifically for the tree.

One
week prior to the celebration, 15 protestors deterred the Cambridge
Landscaping Company from cutting the over-100-year-old tree down. On
Wednesday more Somerville residents turned out to enjoy the music and
celebrate the tree.

Henson-Conant, now an Arlington resident
after 18 years in Somerville, strummed her harp and the choir sang
along; the ensemble performed both songs twice.

The choir has
been learning "Belinda" since September, when the group chose to
perform the song alongside Henson-Conant in its December holiday
concert. Arlington senior Darius Dummott, one of the choir's liveliest
members, said the students knew the tree existed when they began
rehearsing, but had never actually seen it. That is except for one
member.

"I've known the tree since I was a kid," said Leah Eva,
whose sister lives nearby on Seven Pines Avenue. "They started singing
it and I said, 'I know this tree!' Everyone looked at me like I was
crazy."

Eventually the choir became curious and wanted to meet
"Belinda," said Dummott. "It was our idea; we wanted to come out here
and see her."

Two days after deciding to visit the tree, the
group heard it was endangered, Henson-Conant said. "So we decided we
better get down here. We want to support the tree and support the
community."

On Tuesday, arborist group Boston Tree Preservation
will reexamine the tree to determine if it really needs to come down as
the Cambridge Landscaping Company insists, said Thorndike Street
resident Greg Nadeu. "The tree deserves a second opinion," he said.

Many of the Arlington students said they agreed. "This tree went beyond my expectations," said Van Shane.

"It really is a beautiful tree," Dummott said.