As I suggested I might do, I was out in the countryside yesterday. There was good birdwatching to be done on the Kingfisher Bridge nature reserve, with a green woodpecker perhaps the nicest bird of the day.
But, whilst we were out, we (my wife and me) tried an experiment. Some of the reserve's Konik ponies were nearby as we walked, albeit separated by a fence. There was also no one nearby. So we played them some music.
Taylor Swift made no impression.
But Bach's cello suite No 1 did. Without exception, they noticed that, and this pony was fascinated, walking towards us when previously 5 metres distant, and then following us as we walked on. His or her ears (I did not check) were moving constantly in response to the music. It clearly resonated in a way pleasing to them.
It is well known that cows respond to music. This pony, at least, liked Bach.
It was an odd moment of connection where connections seem so much under threat.
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Our cat has a habit of coming in and sitting/lying down on the seat next to our piano when someone is playing – not me I hesitate to add, I play guitar.
My cat ha a habit of batting me severely around the face if I sing in his presence. Onviously a connoisseur!
If it was Yo Yo Ma… ‘ma’ (also the ‘family name’ I took in Chinese) means ‘horse’
Would all three ponies have followed you, if you’d been using B & O speakers?
🙂
I have a room above the garage but connected to the house where I can play music without disturbing everyone. The (old) cat often slips in there for an uninterrupted 12 hour shift of sleep. He cocks an eye at me as I assemble my clarinet, but doesn’t move. However the moment the first note escapes, his rapid exit belies his years! I’ve even tried warming up with the Cat tune from Peter and the Wolf, to no avail.
Good game on Saturday, disappointing for us but hard to begrudge your lot the point (though I don’t say that out loud round here). Glad to be having the derbies again.
Keep up the good work.
I am looking forward to next year when you can only dream of derbies and the Town will repeat 1962 (in my dreams)