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{{Short description|Thai musical ensemble of elephants}}
The '''Thai Elephant Orchestra''' is a musical ensemble consisting of as many as fourteen [[Thai elephant]]s near [[Lampang]] in Northern [[Thailand]]. The elephants play music, essentially as conducted improvisations, on specially designed heavy-duty [[musical instrument]]s. The orchestra was co-created by elephant conservationist [[Richard Lair]] of the [[National Elephant Institute]] and the American musical artist and [[neuroscientist]] [[Dave Soldier]]. They have released three CDs on the [[Mulatta Records]] label with an orchestra ranging in size from six to fourteen elephants. The orchestra currently performs for visitors at the center.
The '''Thai Elephant Orchestra''' is a musical ensemble consisting of as many as fourteen [[Thai elephant]]s near [[Lampang]] in Northern [[Thailand]]. The elephants play music, essentially as conducted improvisations, on specially designed heavy-duty [[musical instrument]]s. The orchestra was co-created by elephant conservationist [[Richard Lair]] of the [[National Elephant Institute]] and the American musical artist and [[neuroscientist]] [[Dave Soldier]]. They have released three CDs on the [[Mulatta Records]] label with an orchestra ranging in size from six to fourteen elephants.

The Orchestra currently performs for visitors at the center. It was created as part of the center's effort to provide a place for former working animals.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Biggest Thing Out Of Thailand: An Elephant Orchestra |url=https://www.npr.org/2013/08/03/208338182/the-biggest-thing-out-of-thailand-an-elephant-orchestra |website=NPR.org |publisher=WUNC |access-date=25 February 2023 |date=August 3, 2013}}</ref> Their music has been described as "genuine" by some music critics.<ref name="BBC (Hooper, 2013)">{{cite news |last1=Hooper |first1=Richard |title=Elephant orchestra: Can animals make real music? |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-24400364 |access-date=25 February 2023 |work=BBC News |date=13 November 2013}}</ref>


==Background==
==Background==
It has been noted since ancient times that elephants seem to have an affinity for music. Performing circus elephants commonly follow musical cues, and early American circuses such as [[Adam Forepaugh]] and [[Barnum & Bailey Circus|Barnum & Bailey]] even featured "elephant bands."<ref name=NYT(2000) /> In the 1950s, German evolutionary biologist [[Bernard Rensch]] found that elephants can distinguish 12 tones on the musical scale and remember simple melodies, even when played on different instruments at various pitches, timbres, and meters.<ref name=NYT(2000)>{{cite news|last=Scigliano|first=Eric|title=Think Tank; A Band With a Lot More to Offer Than Talented Trumpeters|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/12/16/arts/think-tank-a-band-with-a-lot-more-to-offer-than-talented-trumpeters.html|newspaper=New York Times|date=December 16, 2000|location=Arts}}</ref><ref name=Scientist>{{cite web|last=Flores|first=Graciela|title=When I see an elephant...paint?|url=http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/25148/title/When-I-see-an-elephant---paint-/|publisher=The Scientist|accessdate=21 March 2013|date=June 1, 2007}}</ref>
It has been noted since ancient times that elephants seem to have an affinity for music. Performing circus elephants commonly follow musical cues, and early American circuses such as [[Adam Forepaugh]] and [[Barnum & Bailey Circus|Barnum & Bailey]] even featured "elephant bands."<ref name=NYT(2000) /> In the 1950s, German evolutionary biologist [[Bernard Rensch]] found that elephants can distinguish 12 tones on the musical scale and remember simple melodies, even when played on different instruments at various pitches, timbres, and meters.<ref name=NYT(2000)>{{cite news|last=Scigliano|first=Eric|title=Think Tank; A Band With a Lot More to Offer Than Talented Trumpeters|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/12/16/arts/think-tank-a-band-with-a-lot-more-to-offer-than-talented-trumpeters.html|newspaper=New York Times|date=December 16, 2000|location=Arts}}</ref><ref name=Scientist>{{cite web|last=Flores|first=Graciela|title=When I see an elephant...paint?|url=http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/25148/title/When-I-see-an-elephant---paint-/|publisher=The Scientist|accessdate=21 March 2013|date=June 1, 2007}}</ref>


An album of music created by elephant musicians was conceived by New York-based musical artist Dave Soldier (a.k.a. [[David Sulzer]], PhD) and elephant expert Richard Lair, who works at the Thai Elephant Conservation Center in Lampang. [[Traditional Thai music]] is a genre familiar to the elephants, so they chose Thai music scales with a few blues notes. According to Lair, many of the elephants took to their assignment "with gusto".<ref name="PRI">{{cite web|title=Elephant Band : Transcript|url=http://www.loe.org/shows/segments.html?programID=01-P13-00009&segmentID=11|work=PRI : Living on Earth|publisher=World Media Foundation|accessdate=28 March 2013|location=Air Date: Week of March 2, 2001}}</ref>
Three albums of music created by elephant musicians was conceived by New York-based musical artist Dave Soldier (a.k.a. [[David Sulzer]], PhD) and elephant expert Richard Lair, who works at the Thai Elephant Conservation Center in Lampang. [[Traditional Thai music]] is a genre familiar to the elephants, so they chose Thai music scales with a few blues notes. According to Lair, many of the elephants took to their assignment "with gusto".<ref name="PRI">{{cite web|title=Elephant Band : Transcript|url=http://www.loe.org/shows/segments.html?programID=01-P13-00009&segmentID=11|work=PRI : Living on Earth|publisher=World Media Foundation|accessdate=28 March 2013|location=Air Date: Week of March 2, 2001}}</ref>


==Music==
==Music==
The Thai Elephant Orchestra primarily uses the ''Lanna'' Thai [[Pentatonic scale|five-note scale]], and most instruments are heavy-duty versions of [[traditional Thai musical instruments]]; additional instruments include drums and harmonica.<ref name=Leonardo>{{cite journal|last=Soldier|first=Dave|title=Eine Kleine Naughtmusik: How Nefarious Nonartists Cleverly Imitate Music|journal=Leonardo Music Journal|year=2002|volume=12|pages=57–58|url=http://mulatta.org/articles/Soldier_Leonardo.pdf|format=PDF|accessdate=25 March 2013|doi=10.1162/096112102762295142}}</ref>
The Thai Elephant Orchestra primarily uses the ''Lanna'' Thai [[Pentatonic scale|five-note scale]], and most instruments are heavy-duty versions of [[traditional Thai musical instruments]]; additional instruments include drums and harmonica.<ref name=Leonardo>{{cite journal|last=Soldier|first=Dave|title=Eine Kleine Naughtmusik: How Nefarious Nonartists Cleverly Imitate Music|journal=Leonardo Music Journal|year=2002|volume=12|pages=57–58|url=http://mulatta.org/articles/Soldier_Leonardo.pdf|accessdate=25 March 2013|doi=10.1162/096112102762295142|s2cid=17933440 }}</ref>


Their musical works are of two general types. The first type features the elephants individually improvising on the instruments with the only human interaction being cues as to when to start and stop. The other type is compositional and requires [[mahout]]s to teach or train the elephants to perform human tunes as a [[hocket]], with each elephant playing an individual note on tuned instruments such as [[Angklung|angalung]]s.<ref name=WNYC>{{cite web|title=Thai Elephants on Parade|url=http://www.wnyc.org/shows/newsounds/2004/oct/12/|work=WNYC|publisher=New York Public Radio|accessdate=28 March 2013|location=New Sounds : Episode #2329|date=October 12, 2004|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120728104228/http://www.wnyc.org/shows/newsounds/2004/oct/12/|archivedate=28 July 2012|df=}}</ref>
Their musical works are of two general types. The first type, which are on the recordings, features the elephants individually improvising on the instruments with the only human interaction being cues as to when to start and stop. The other type is compositional and requires [[mahout]]s to teach or train the elephants to perform human tunes as a [[hocket]], with each elephant playing an individual note on [[Angklung|angalung]]s.<ref name=WNYC>{{cite web|title=Thai Elephants on Parade|url=http://www.wnyc.org/shows/newsounds/2004/oct/12/|work=WNYC|publisher=New York Public Radio|accessdate=28 March 2013|location=New Sounds : Episode #2329|date=October 12, 2004|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120728104228/http://www.wnyc.org/shows/newsounds/2004/oct/12/|archivedate=28 July 2012}}</ref>
;Discography
;Discography
* (2002) – ''The Thai Elephant Orchestra''
* (2002) – ''The Thai Elephant Orchestra''
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==External links==
==External links==
{{link farm|date=January 2017}}
{{link farm|date=January 2017}}
*{{cite web|title=Thai Elephant Orchestra|url=http://www.thailandelephant.org/en/orchestra.html|work=Art & Culture|publisher=Thai Elephant Conservation Center|deadurl=bot: unknown|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120904031355/http://www.thailandelephant.org/en/orchestra.html|archivedate=2012-09-04|df=}} — Story, photos and 4-part documentary
*{{cite web|title=Thai Elephant Orchestra|url=http://www.thailandelephant.org/en/orchestra.html|work=Art & Culture|publisher=Thai Elephant Conservation Center|url-status=bot: unknown|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120904031355/http://www.thailandelephant.org/en/orchestra.html|archivedate=2012-09-04}} — Story, photos and 4-part documentary
* [http://www.mulatta.org/thaieleorchpage.html The Thai Elephant Orchestra] at [[Mulatta Records]] (includes audio samples)
* [http://mulatta.org/articles/DaveKinship%20with%20Animals.pdf Kinship with Animals : Thai Elephant Orchestra ], article by Dave Soldier
* [http://mulatta.org/articles/DaveKinship%20with%20Animals.pdf Kinship with Animals : Thai Elephant Orchestra ], article by Dave Soldier
* [http://davesoldier.com/videos/thai%20ellie%20DVDComp.mov Video documentary] on the Thai Elephant Orchestra by Paul Spurrier
*{{cite web|title=Audio: Elephant Orchestra|url=http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0510/feature5/audio.html|work=Thai Elephants|publisher=National Geographic Society}} — Includes 3 songs
*[http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01gsjfk 2013 Interview with Dave Soldier on Thai Elephant Orchestra on BBC]
*[http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01gsjfk 2013 Interview with Dave Soldier on Thai Elephant Orchestra on BBC]
*[https://www.npr.org/2013/08/03/208338182/the-biggest-thing-out-of-thailand-an-elephant-orchestra 2013 Interview about ''The Thai Elephant Orchestra''], NPR: ''[[All Things Considered]]'' by [[Jacki Lyden]]
*[https://www.npr.org/2013/08/03/208338182/the-biggest-thing-out-of-thailand-an-elephant-orchestra 2013 Interview about ''The Thai Elephant Orchestra''], NPR: ''[[All Things Considered]]'' by [[Jacki Lyden]]
*[https://www.sott.net/article/268825-In-the-groove-Thai-Elephant-orchestra] Story from [[BBC]]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090318025514/http://www.wnyc.org/shows/newsounds/episodes/2004/10/12 Interview on WNYC Radio] by [[John Schaefer]]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090318025514/http://www.wnyc.org/shows/newsounds/episodes/2004/10/12 Interview on WNYC Radio] by [[John Schaefer]]
*[http://www.economist.com/World/asia/displayStory.cfm?Story_ID=492852 The Thai Elephant Orchestra] in ''[[The Economist]]''
*[http://www.economist.com/World/asia/displayStory.cfm?Story_ID=492852 The Thai Elephant Orchestra] in ''[[The Economist]]''
*[http://www7.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0510/feature5/audio.html ''National Geographic'' on the Thai Elephant Orchestra]
*[http://www.aftonbladet.se/vss/nyheter/story/0,2789,192988,00.html Swedish TV episode on the Thai Elephant Orchestra] (in Swedish)
*[https://www.motherjones.com/mixed-media/2011/02/elephant-orchestra-music-thailand.html ''Mother Jones'' on the Thai Elephant Orchestra]


{{Zoomusicology}}
{{Zoomusicology}}

Latest revision as of 07:21, 25 February 2023

The Thai Elephant Orchestra is a musical ensemble consisting of as many as fourteen Thai elephants near Lampang in Northern Thailand. The elephants play music, essentially as conducted improvisations, on specially designed heavy-duty musical instruments. The orchestra was co-created by elephant conservationist Richard Lair of the National Elephant Institute and the American musical artist and neuroscientist Dave Soldier. They have released three CDs on the Mulatta Records label with an orchestra ranging in size from six to fourteen elephants.

The Orchestra currently performs for visitors at the center. It was created as part of the center's effort to provide a place for former working animals.[1] Their music has been described as "genuine" by some music critics.[2]

Background

[edit]

It has been noted since ancient times that elephants seem to have an affinity for music. Performing circus elephants commonly follow musical cues, and early American circuses such as Adam Forepaugh and Barnum & Bailey even featured "elephant bands."[3] In the 1950s, German evolutionary biologist Bernard Rensch found that elephants can distinguish 12 tones on the musical scale and remember simple melodies, even when played on different instruments at various pitches, timbres, and meters.[3][4]

Three albums of music created by elephant musicians was conceived by New York-based musical artist Dave Soldier (a.k.a. David Sulzer, PhD) and elephant expert Richard Lair, who works at the Thai Elephant Conservation Center in Lampang. Traditional Thai music is a genre familiar to the elephants, so they chose Thai music scales with a few blues notes. According to Lair, many of the elephants took to their assignment "with gusto".[5]

Music

[edit]

The Thai Elephant Orchestra primarily uses the Lanna Thai five-note scale, and most instruments are heavy-duty versions of traditional Thai musical instruments; additional instruments include drums and harmonica.[6]

Their musical works are of two general types. The first type, which are on the recordings, features the elephants individually improvising on the instruments with the only human interaction being cues as to when to start and stop. The other type is compositional and requires mahouts to teach or train the elephants to perform human tunes as a hocket, with each elephant playing an individual note on angalungs.[7]

Discography
  • (2002) – The Thai Elephant Orchestra
  • (2005) – Elephonic Rhapsodies
  • (2011) – Water Music

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "The Biggest Thing Out Of Thailand: An Elephant Orchestra". NPR.org. WUNC. August 3, 2013. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  2. ^ Hooper, Richard (13 November 2013). "Elephant orchestra: Can animals make real music?". BBC News. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  3. ^ a b Scigliano, Eric (December 16, 2000). "Think Tank; A Band With a Lot More to Offer Than Talented Trumpeters". New York Times. Arts.
  4. ^ Flores, Graciela (June 1, 2007). "When I see an elephant...paint?". The Scientist. Retrieved 21 March 2013.
  5. ^ "Elephant Band : Transcript". PRI : Living on Earth. Air Date: Week of March 2, 2001: World Media Foundation. Retrieved 28 March 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  6. ^ Soldier, Dave (2002). "Eine Kleine Naughtmusik: How Nefarious Nonartists Cleverly Imitate Music" (PDF). Leonardo Music Journal. 12: 57–58. doi:10.1162/096112102762295142. S2CID 17933440. Retrieved 25 March 2013.
  7. ^ "Thai Elephants on Parade". WNYC. New Sounds : Episode #2329: New York Public Radio. October 12, 2004. Archived from the original on 28 July 2012. Retrieved 28 March 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
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