It is mind-blowing to think how alike humans and animals can sometimes be. I’m not talking about physical appearance—the closest resemblance there are primates and that’s about it.
Animals continue to surprise and inspire us through their mental capacity for things we often find exclusively human. You know, things like emotion, empathy, the capacity for creativity and whatnot. What is most surprising to see is the fact that animals understand and partake in what we view as art and culture.
Believe it or not, but this cute blind elephant prefers to dance to classical music
Image credits: Paul Barton
Take this for example: A British musician by the name of Paul Barton dragged out a piano into the middle of an elephant sanctuary and began playing classical music to a blind elephant named Lam Duan.
The female elephant’s response? A pretty human one. She began swaying from side to side, moving her trunk, and even stepping around as if to dance to the music.
Image credits: Paul Barton
In his video, Barton explains that the gentle old female elephant named Lam Duan has been blind for most of her life. The 62-year-old elephant spends her days in ElephantsWorld which is an animal protection organization based in Wang Dong, Thailand. He then proceeds to play her some soothing classical music by Frédéric Chopin, Johann Sebastian Bach, Franz Schubert, and Erik Satie.
This musician dragged his piano to an elephant sanctuary in Thailand so he could play for retired elephants
Image credits: Paul Barton
What adds even more charm to this story is the idea of this kind-hearted pianist sharing his talent and time with someone who is blind and can’t enjoy the beauty of sight but can, however, enjoy all that is aural. It’s like reading to the blind except with music.
Image credits: Paul Barton
Barton got the idea to do this one day on the River Kwai bridge while filming a video for his channel. There, he found out about this elephant sanctuary that takes care of old, injured, handicapped logging, and street elephants. Since he loved elephants, he went down there and asked if he could bring in and play the piano to the elephants. They had no objection to that.
Lam Duan isn’t the only elephant enjoying the soothing sounds of Bach, Chopin, and Schubert
Image credits: Paul Barton
Believe it or not, Lam Duan wasn’t the only elephant to enjoy this gift. There was a whole slew of elephants coming in and listening to Barton’s performance. Some even sang! Well, sang to the best of their ability. There is even a video of him playing the Saiyok, a traditional Thai flute, for an elephant named Plara.
Here is the full video of Lam Duan swaying side to side to the sound of classical music
Image credits: Paul Barton
In an interview with Coconuts Bangkok, Barton explained that almost all elephants react to music. They suddenly start to move as soon as the music starts to play. Some come closer to the piano and begin stroking it with their trunks, while others hold their trunks in their mouths and listen. Yet others, like Lam Duan, sway from side to side. All become curious when the sound of the piano reaches their ears.
The elephants enjoy Barton’s performances so much, some even attempt to sing along
Image credits: Paul Barton
Barton is known to also play the Saiyok, a traditional Thai flute, to the elephants
Image credits: Paul Barton
Paul Barton has his own YouTube channel where he posts music on the regular, including all the times he played for elephants, so the beauty never has to stop.
Here is how the internet reacted to Barton and his performance for the elephants…
Seeing how many animals react to music is a truly wonderful thing. Elephants, tigers, and especially cows... brings joy to my (and their) life.
I notice that although he/she moved back and forth they didn't actually do anything but listen, if only human audiences were so polite! What struck me thought was when the third piece began, in the base register, eke perked up, reminding me that elephants hear down to much lower ranges of sound, indeed beyond what we can hear. So I wonder if someone translated the music down an octave or two... but how do you judge an elephants enjoyment of different pieces of music?
Like maybe bring in bass violas, or just string bass and play that and see how the elephants react to those? I bet they'd LOVE it.
Load More Replies...I never heard the elephants sang like that, they looks so happy, calm and peaceful.
What really struck me is they were actually picking certain points in the rhythm of the song, and really attempting to get the pitch. It kinda fit. So cool!
Load More Replies...I love the elephants 'singing along'. Though my dog is currently running around the house trying to find them....hahaha
That's so funny. Mine didn't even bother lifting their heads!
Load More Replies...I was singing lyrical folk songs at a wildlife park in Texas, and animals tried to get closer . . . made for some great photos! I think most people yell and throw things . . .
The elephant is making that squeaking noise? It sounds like a whoopee cushion! I wonder whether they think the piano is another animal, or they understand that it's an inanimate object and the human is playing it?
They understand. Elephants are incredibly intelligent, and emotional.
Load More Replies...have you ever considered the fact that this man's play is a literal teasing of the animal? he just bangs the piano, it is not a play it is a massacre. and what about shouts and kicks of those guys that "gathered" the flock to the "concert"? those elephants were just terrified thus you hear those screams! it was call for help not singing. agh, right you don't want to see that in your "panda" dream ...
There is a dancing cockatoo researchers wanted to analyze to see if he came up with the dances on his own, or if he was trained. The owners agreed to allow them to look at their bird & said they never trained him to dance. He liked the beat of the music & just started dancing to it. The researchers catalogued the movements the cockatoo made: foot stamps, head-bangs, side-steps & so on. Some birds--mostly parrots--like strong beats. :-) We had a Sun Conure who was getting into my Goth/Industrial music I played while I worked. She hadn't heard much music before; she hung out on the side of the cage closest to my player, would bob her head, tap her feet against the bars, or "pop" the bars by nipping at them with her beak in time with the music. The elephants enjoying music are beautiful, especially the singing ones. Their voices worked with "Greensleeves"! They picked specific points in the song! They should try classical guitar next, for the softer sound--the piano is a bit harsh. :-)
Is it just me or does it KIND OF look like there is plastic on the ground😢
What a Beautiful Loving Caring person to take time to take his piano and play for this Sweet Elephant 💕🌹💕 Never underestimate Animals and what they feel and enjoy !!!
that was inspiring. i cant imagine how happy that elephant.
Wow, I never would have thought of doing something like that. That's amazing.
This is pure beauty. Made me tearful even though I'm super happy about this generosity of spirit. I guess I am touched. Need more people like this on earth!
This is beautiful, and has enhanced my day. The first video in which he played Ave Maria was very moving.
Seeing how many animals react to music is a truly wonderful thing. Elephants, tigers, and especially cows... brings joy to my (and their) life.
I notice that although he/she moved back and forth they didn't actually do anything but listen, if only human audiences were so polite! What struck me thought was when the third piece began, in the base register, eke perked up, reminding me that elephants hear down to much lower ranges of sound, indeed beyond what we can hear. So I wonder if someone translated the music down an octave or two... but how do you judge an elephants enjoyment of different pieces of music?
Like maybe bring in bass violas, or just string bass and play that and see how the elephants react to those? I bet they'd LOVE it.
Load More Replies...I never heard the elephants sang like that, they looks so happy, calm and peaceful.
What really struck me is they were actually picking certain points in the rhythm of the song, and really attempting to get the pitch. It kinda fit. So cool!
Load More Replies...I love the elephants 'singing along'. Though my dog is currently running around the house trying to find them....hahaha
That's so funny. Mine didn't even bother lifting their heads!
Load More Replies...I was singing lyrical folk songs at a wildlife park in Texas, and animals tried to get closer . . . made for some great photos! I think most people yell and throw things . . .
The elephant is making that squeaking noise? It sounds like a whoopee cushion! I wonder whether they think the piano is another animal, or they understand that it's an inanimate object and the human is playing it?
They understand. Elephants are incredibly intelligent, and emotional.
Load More Replies...have you ever considered the fact that this man's play is a literal teasing of the animal? he just bangs the piano, it is not a play it is a massacre. and what about shouts and kicks of those guys that "gathered" the flock to the "concert"? those elephants were just terrified thus you hear those screams! it was call for help not singing. agh, right you don't want to see that in your "panda" dream ...
There is a dancing cockatoo researchers wanted to analyze to see if he came up with the dances on his own, or if he was trained. The owners agreed to allow them to look at their bird & said they never trained him to dance. He liked the beat of the music & just started dancing to it. The researchers catalogued the movements the cockatoo made: foot stamps, head-bangs, side-steps & so on. Some birds--mostly parrots--like strong beats. :-) We had a Sun Conure who was getting into my Goth/Industrial music I played while I worked. She hadn't heard much music before; she hung out on the side of the cage closest to my player, would bob her head, tap her feet against the bars, or "pop" the bars by nipping at them with her beak in time with the music. The elephants enjoying music are beautiful, especially the singing ones. Their voices worked with "Greensleeves"! They picked specific points in the song! They should try classical guitar next, for the softer sound--the piano is a bit harsh. :-)
Is it just me or does it KIND OF look like there is plastic on the ground😢
What a Beautiful Loving Caring person to take time to take his piano and play for this Sweet Elephant 💕🌹💕 Never underestimate Animals and what they feel and enjoy !!!
that was inspiring. i cant imagine how happy that elephant.
Wow, I never would have thought of doing something like that. That's amazing.
This is pure beauty. Made me tearful even though I'm super happy about this generosity of spirit. I guess I am touched. Need more people like this on earth!
This is beautiful, and has enhanced my day. The first video in which he played Ave Maria was very moving.
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