--- author: Eric Wagoner date: '2001-04-09T12:13:00' draft: false title: I just listened to one --- I just listened to one of the most moving things I've ever heard: [The Thai Elephant Orchestra](http://www.mulatta.org/Thaielephantorch.html). These elphants were taught how to play oversided versions of traditional eastern instruments, including drums, string bass, and even harmonicas. The elephants were taught how to play them, were allowed to practice on their own on the instruments they chose, and were recorded after a few practice sessions. They were cued to start and stop, but were given no direction in between. The music is most beautiful. The page linked above has samples from the CD and a way to order. I heard them on the wonderful PRI radio program [_To the Best of Our Knowledge_](http://www.wpr.org/book/010325b.htm).