British pianist Paul Barton is no ordinary musician. His wife is from Thailand, and one day while traveling through the country, the couple came across Elephant World, a rehabilitation center for elephants. Elephants rescued from labor slavery are kept there.
Unfortunately, in developing countries, these animals are often used to carry heavy loads by loggers. After years of such work the elephants are left crippled and unable to live in the wild. Elephant World shelters just such animals.
Seeing the old sick elephants, the musician wondered what could be done to help them. The facilities at Elephant World are great, but Paul wanted to do something else to make them happy. He asked permission to bring his own piano. Permission was granted, and Paul played a concert for one of the elephants – an old and blind one. When the musician played Beethoven, the big animal stopped chewing grass and listened attentively. Paul was sure that the elephant appreciated the music and liked it.
Subsequently, he began doing this practice for all the elephants at the center. The classical works worked wonders: even the elephants with a ferocious temperament calmed down, stood motionless next to the piano and listened to the concerto. Barton played for these listeners at any time – even at night, with a flashlight on his head or a lamp close by so he could see the notes.
Every piece Paul played for a particular elephant. Although there were times when whole groups of animals came to hear the music. Paul is sure that elephants understand and enjoy music, and for many of them – blind and crippled by hard work – his concerts were a real comfort and joy. By the way, Paul Barton’s daughter is also an aspiring musician and loves playing for the dogs and cats this family also helps.
In the following video, Paul Barton plays Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata” for a 61-year-old elephant who has spent years in slavery to loggers and has lost one eye and tusk. Surprisingly, the elephant not only listens attentively, but also swings and makes movements with its trunk to the music. Sometimes the elephant and the musician exchange glances. And when the piece is played, a close-up of the elephant can be seen with a small tear in his eye.