The Thai Elephant Orchestra
Elephants in the Thai jungle playing specially designed musical
instruments. The elephants improvise the music themselves. The Thai
Elephant Orchestra was co-founded by Richard Lair of the Thai Elephant
Conservation Center in Lampang and performer/composer Dave Soldier.
Half of the profits go to the Conservation Center.
Click a release for info and music:
The Thai Elephant Orchestra Water Music |
The Thai Elephant Orchestra Elephonic Rhapsodies |
 The Thai Elephant Orchestra |
 The Thai Elephant Orchestra Smash Hits |
An article on the Thai Elephant Orchestra by Dave Soldier
A more flippant article on this and related projects by Dave Soldier
Article about the Orchestra from The New York Times
Article on Thai elephants (features the orchestra) from National Geographic
Article from Time Magazine
Article from The Economist
Review of Elephonic Rhapsodies from Seattle Weekly
official website for the TEO
Video: with lots of playing shot by SBS in Australia
Video: Swedish TV story with nice film clips of the performances
Short video of a trio and an 8 piece from June, 2006 by Neal Christensen
Full length video by Paul Spurrier from 2006 about the orchestra, lots of playing and interviews
Audio: BBC radio interview
Audio: a long Canadian Radio interview
Audio: interview by WNYC's John Schaefer