their massive blood moves as the moon-tides

August 22, 2018 6:02 AM

Debussy "Clair de Lune" on Piano for 80 Year Old Elephant

"Debussy Clair de Lune for a gentle female elephant called Ampan. Ampan is 80 years old and lives with us at Elephants World in Thailand. She is blind in one eye and can barely see with the other. 80 years old is very old indeed for an elephant, it’s about 10 years past the natural life span of an elephant in the wild."

Paul Barton plays lots of different kinds of music and musical instruments for (and often with) elephants of all ages. More at this playlist.

posted by lazaruslong (22 comments total)

I love elephants and "Clair de Lune" is one of my very favorite pieces of music. This was nice.
posted by 4ster at 6:20 AM on August 22, 2018 [3 favorites]

Yes, thank you for that moment, that was very rehumanising.
posted by Molesome at 6:22 AM on August 22, 2018 [4 favorites]

this was wonderful and almost made me a little misty-eyed.

This is a nice morning answer to the dystopia we seem to be ambling through as a planet.
posted by Dillionaire at 6:56 AM on August 22, 2018 [3 favorites]

I got misty-eyed at the first ear flips. FRANDS.
posted by Orange Dinosaur Slide at 7:21 AM on August 22, 2018 [5 favorites]

I am not crying. You are crying.
posted by Sing Or Swim at 7:50 AM on August 22, 2018 [8 favorites]

Beauteous
posted by growabrain at 8:01 AM on August 22, 2018

A post like this, on a morning like this - just what the internet was made for. Thank you very much!
posted by cybrcamper at 8:33 AM on August 22, 2018

isn't it debussy's birthday?
posted by rebent at 8:38 AM on August 22, 2018 [2 favorites]

isn't it debussy's birthday?

Indeed it is - he would have been 156 years old today. That plus the need for a moment of peace was the inspiration for the post. =)
posted by lazaruslong at 8:48 AM on August 22, 2018 [6 favorites]

This was wonderful
posted by gt2 at 9:05 AM on August 22, 2018 [1 favorite]

Too nice for words
posted by doctor_negative at 10:09 AM on August 22, 2018 [1 favorite]

Does anybody know enough about elephant behaviour to read what her body language is saying? Is ear flapping a good sign that she's enjoying something or a bad sign that she's annoyed? I thought she looked more relaxed in the body (especially her back end) but that just could be her adjusting her stance.
posted by sardonyx at 10:10 AM on August 22, 2018

I read that the ear flapping represents excitement and joy, and in hot weather is also used for cooling.
posted by lazaruslong at 10:23 AM on August 22, 2018

It's a lovely video. I am skeptical that whatever was coming out of that elephant's eye was a tear, however. Looked more like garden-variety eye goop.
posted by grumpybear69 at 10:48 AM on August 22, 2018 [2 favorites]

Apt comment below the video: "So that's what my teeth sound like."
posted by beagle at 11:35 AM on August 22, 2018 [2 favorites]

Not just the ear flapping tho - the rocking back gesture at the song's climax got to me, as did the tears...
posted by not_that_epiphanius at 11:41 AM on August 22, 2018 [1 favorite]

"So that's what my teeth sound like."

Fortunately, ivory has not been used for piano keys in quite a while.
posted by sonascope at 11:43 AM on August 22, 2018 [1 favorite]

That was really beautiful, thank you. I have always liked Clair de Lune, and this week I am really getting my itch scratched between this video and the one NASA released of (perhaps too literal) HD light on the moon with accompanying piece.

I have always had a soft spot in my heart for elephants. There is something about them that helps a human like me can find compassion easily, like in this photo of a circus performer on her coffee break offering comfort to a baby elephant. It makes me sad and happy at the same time.
posted by seasparrow at 12:36 PM on August 22, 2018 [4 favorites]

That was beautiful, and the comments on YouTube are cracking me up.

Regular people: This is so moving - you made me cry.

Pianists: YOU SKIPPED THE HARD PART >:(
posted by queensissy at 12:40 PM on August 22, 2018 [8 favorites]

I read that the ear flapping represents excitement and joy, and in hot weather is also used for cooling.

Same thing for elephants!
posted by Celsius1414 at 5:14 PM on August 22, 2018 [1 favorite]

Oh god, wow.
posted by A Terrible Llama at 6:10 PM on August 22, 2018

A+ choice of post title.
posted by huimangm at 8:32 PM on August 22, 2018 [1 favorite]