Animals never cease to amaze us, astonish us with their ability to empathize with things we consider human. This blind elephant was enthralled by the piano’s sounds, demonstrating the bond that animals have with what we call art and culture. Paul Barton, a 57-year-old British concert pianist from Yorkshire, is an example of this.
Barton took his piano to an elephant sanctuary and began playing classical music for ‘Lam Duam,’ a 62-year-old blind elephant.
Photo Paul Barton
The response he received was incredibly human. Lam Duam started to sway and then turned to dance to the music. In a video, Paul Barton describes Lam Duam’s life. She has been blind for most of her life and spends her days at ElephantsWorld in Wang Dong, Thailand, an animal protection organization.
Following that, Barton kicks off his Lam Duam concert with some relaxing classical music by Frederic Chopin, Johann Sebastian Bach, Franz Schubert, and Erik Satie.
Photo Paul Barton
What makes this moment so extraordinary is witnessing how this pianist shares his talents with this blind elephant, who undoubtedly enjoys all of the aural sensations and the beauty of the piano.
Photo Paul Barton
Barton got the idea while filming a video for his YouTube channel on the River Kwai Bridge, where he learned about a sanctuary for old, injured, and disabled elephants.
Photo Paul Barton
He went there and asked if he could bring his piano to the venue and play for them because he adores these giants.
Barton’s concerts were not only enjoyed by Lam Daum, but by many other elephants as well. Some even sang along with the pianist, who also played the traditional Thai flute, the “Saiyok.” Barton discussed elephants’ reactions to music in an interview with coconuts Bangkok. They begin to move as soon as they hear the sounds.
Some people take their horns up to the piano and play it, while others put their horns in their mouths and listen intently. Lam Duan, on the other hand, starts to rock.
