A video of a pianist playing for macaque monkeys at an abandoned cinema has gone viral, moving not just the pianist himself but also the viewers who watched it. People who have seen the video expressed their admiration for the pianist’s gentle approach towards animals, with some even saying that it brought tears to their eyes. One of the viewers said that it was “touching and sad for some reason” when an elder macaque came to sit next to the pianist while he was playing.
The pianist, Paul Barton, has a blog series called “Music for Monkeys” which he created in collaboration with his daughter Emilie as part of her homeschool activities. In one of the videos, Emilie and her mother Khwan Barton can be seen helping to film Paul’s playing while interacting with some of the monkeys.
The most popular video in the “Music for Monkeys” playlist is the one where Barton is seen playing for macaques in the Monkey Temple. Unlike the macaque gang that lives at the abandoned cinema, the temple macaque gang is more forward, mischievous, and occasionally aggressive towards humans. Barton noted that the reaction of both macaque gangs to piano music was very different.
Barton’s videos have not only captivated viewers, but they also serve a greater purpose. According to him, playing for the monkeys helps to raise awareness about their conservation and welfare. Through his music, he hopes to encourage people to appreciate the beauty and value of these creatures and to take action to protect them
