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Paul Barton plays piano to soothe ailing, blind elephants at Thailand sanctuary

5 min read

Good Stuff
Paul Barton plays piano to soothe ailing, blind elephants at Thailand sanctuary

Elephants World, a haven of sanctuary, was set up on the banks of the river Kwai to give these retired working elephants a peaceful home — and it’s also where Royal Academician Paul Barton introduced them to classical piano.

Classical Music for elephants

Paul Barton, a celebrated British portrait artist and concert pianist, went to Thailand in 1996 in search of adventure. Instead, he found love and a quest for life. He and his wife have been working to rehabilitate these elephants for the past 25 years. Ten years ago, on the occasion of his fiftieth birthday, Barton decided to fulfill a long-cherished dream of playing music to blind elephants. He did this by dragging his piano all the way up the mountain where the elephants usually gathered. Though the main purpose of this feat was fundraising, his personal motive for doing it is as enriching as it is inspiring, and he has been playing to them regularly ever since.

In Elephant’s World, a home for rescued elephants in Thailand, Barton plays piano for blind animals and shows us that it is possible to interact with them in very profound and heart-warming ways.

Imagine hearing classical music for the first time. In Elephant’s World, a home for rescued elephants in Thailand, Barton plays piano for blind animals and shows us that it is possible to interact with them in very profound and heart-warming ways. Source: Feurich

Soothing classical music for old, blind elephants

It all started when he and his wife first discovered the sanctuary, Elephants World, online, Barton explains in a video. “We liked the sound of the place being a retirement center for old, injured and handicapped former logging and trekking elephants,” Barton said. “So we paid them a visit. I wondered if these old rescue elephants might like to listen to some slow classical music.”

Barton asked the employees at Elephants World if he could bring his piano and serenade the elephants sometime, and they said yes. The musician returned to Elephants World to perform for the other ailing animals. The sanctuary is home to older elephants, and a few of them are blind. Barton said he believes the music helps calm the elephants. 

Source: CBSNews

From 1975 to 1986 Thailand lost 28% of its remaining forests. Faced with these alarming figures, the government finally came around to enacting a ban on commercial timber logging in 1989.

Thai teak wood is considered to be the finest in the world, a fact that has served to reduce the country’s forest cover from 61% to 34% in the twentieth century. From 1975 to 1986 Thailand lost 28% of its remaining forests. Faced with these alarming figures, the government finally came around to enacting a ban on commercial timber logging in 1989. Source: Feurich

Paul Barton backstory

The English pianist, Paul Barton, studied art at the Royal Academy of Arts in London at 16 years old. He won first prizes for portrait painting and portrait drawing in annual student competitions and graduated at 20 years old with the Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation prize. He exhibited at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition and Royal Society of Portrait Painters.

Barton then decided to start a career as a concert pianist. Although his brilliant performances quickly helped him on his way to the big stage, the multi-talented Englishman soon realised that this way of life was just not for him. At this point, he chose to travel to Thailand for 3 months, and work as a piano teacher. It was here that he met his wife Khwan (married on September 7, 1996), a wildlife artist, and he decided to make Thailand his home. They work together from their studio in Thailand. In Bangkok, he opened his own recording studio, equipped with a FEURICH 218 – Concert I with Pédale Harmonique.

It was here that Barton started a new career that has helped countless pianists over the world to develop their skills: on social media platforms like Youtube, Facebook and Instagram, he provides free tutorials and interpretations of many virtuoso masterpieces from the classical music repertoire. His international fan base wait with bated breath for every new video he releases.

Barton’s portrait sitters include the prominent British politicians Roy Jenkins, Sir David Steel, and business leaders, Sir John Harvey Jones. Private commissions include entertainment personalities, actors, writers, musicians and numerous individual and family portrait groups.

He has also had a wide-reaching influence on many peoples’ lives outside the world of classical piano.

Source: Bach-cantatas.com

Stripped of their freedom, these elephants were made to carry heavy logs of wood through the jungles and abused and mistreated to no end. The twigs and branches would scratch their eyes and draw blood from all over their body.

The worst victims of this forestland massacre were those gentle beings whose home that forest was. Stripped of their freedom, these elephants were made to carry heavy logs of wood through the jungles and abused and mistreated to no end. The twigs and branches would scratch their eyes and draw blood from all over their body. Source: Feurich

Why the sanctuary is needed

Thai teak wood is considered to be the finest in the world, a fact that has served to reduce the country’s forest cover from 61% to 34% in the twentieth century. From 1975 to 1986 Thailand lost 28% of its remaining forests. Faced with these alarming figures, the government finally came around to enacting a ban on commercial timber logging in 1989.

The worst victims of this forestland massacre were those gentle beings whose home that forest was. Stripped of their freedom, these elephants were made to carry heavy logs of wood through the jungles and abused and mistreated to no end. The twigs and branches would scratch their eyes and draw blood from all over their body.

When the ban on deforestation was enacted, these elephants were rendered ‘unemployed’, mostly blind because of the injuries they suffered during the course of their ‘employment’ and with no training on how to survive on their own.

Source: YourStory

mostly blind because of the injuries they suffered during the course of their ‘employment’ and with no training on how to survive on their own.

When the ban on deforestation was enacted, these elephants were rendered ‘unemployed’, mostly blind because of the injuries they suffered during the course of their ‘employment’ and with no training on how to survive on their own. Source: YourStory

Makes you wonder what elephants actually THINK about this experience.
Music to flap your ears to. Makes you wonder what elephants actually THINK about this experience. Source: YourStory
At the sanctuary the elephants have the freedom to walk away from Barton, but without exception they choose to stay and listen.
Paul Barton with two appreciative audience members. At the sanctuary the elephants have the freedom to walk away from Barton, but without exception they choose to stay and listen. Source: Facebook/Paul Barton
even if it means sending a piano technician to the middle of the jungle for him! Incidentally, Paul’s piano contains no ivory.
Austrian piano maker Feurich say it is their pleasure to support Paul in his work… even if it means sending a piano technician to the middle of the jungle for him! Incidentally, Paul’s piano contains no ivory. Source: Feurich

English pianist plays for blind elephants. Pianist Paul Barton has created a magical bond with blind elephants, playing classical music in a Thai sanctuary. Source: Facebook/BrightVibes
Chopin Tristesse for 80-Year-Old Blind Elephant. I'd like you to meet Ampan. At 80 years old she was one of the oldest elephants in Thailand. Ampan was blind so needed to be looked after with great care. Ampan was the gentlest of all the elephants I have been privileged to know and I became very attached to her. Occasionally we'd take an early evening walk in the bushy wilderness around her home. Ampan seemed to enjoy slow piano music so occasionally I'd play her a few melodies before we strolled back to her home by the river. Source: Facebook/PaulBartonPiano

This article was first published on Dec 20, 2021.

 

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