Hood River Valley High School’s theater department will present the musical, “Theory of Relativity,” beginning this weekend in the school’s Bo…

There’s an enthusiastic tone in Larry Wyatt’s voice as he demonstrates a unique wooden instrument that sits on the floor in the front of his May Street School music classroom. “These are “Studio 49” German-engineered xylophone bass boxes. They’re set up so we can play in the key of C, which is the same for my ukuleles.” With large mallets, Larry deftly plays a bass line that could be used in any number of simple folk songs, and then plays the first few measures of “Ode to Joy.” Full, rich, bell-like tones resonate around the room.