【精英翻譯】的部落格

A Pianist with a Purpose　撫慰象心的鋼琴家

精英翻譯社轉自: https://paper.udn.com/udnpaper/POH0062/341100/web/

This musician brings Bach and Beethoven to some very big listeners.

這位音樂家將巴哈及貝多芬等音樂帶給一些重量級的聽眾。

Many people start to love elephants from the time that they first learn the letter “E.” Unfortunately, these gentle giants are an endangered species and have been abused by humans for hundreds of years. Fortunately, Paul Barton, an artist and musician from the UK who has been living in Thailand for several years, is taking matters into his own two hands.

很多人從他們剛開始學到字母 E 時就愛上大象了。不幸的是這些性格溫馴的大型生物是瀕臨滅絕的物種，還被人類凌虐了數百年之久。幸好，一位旅居泰國多年的英國藝術家兼音樂家保羅‧巴頓正親手來處理這些問題。

Over the last seven years, Barton has spent his time performing classical piano for the residents at Elephants World, a sanctuary a few hours’ drive from Bangkok. These elephants spent most of their lives working for humans in the logging and tourism industries, and they are now retired here. Some of them are blind. When Barton performs for them, every animal responds to the music in some way. They might sway to the beat, hold their trunks inside their mouths, or even walk up to the piano and put their trunks on it.

巴頓在過去七年以來利用自己的時間為大象世界裡的成員演奏古典鋼琴曲目，大象世界是一個距離曼谷幾個小時車程的象隻收容所。這些象一生大多都在為人類的伐木業及觀光業賣命，而現在就在這裡退休了。有些大象已失明。在巴頓為牠們演奏時，每一隻都以某種方式對這些音樂作出反應。牠們會將自己的鼻子放進嘴裡而隨著節奏搖擺，甚至走向鋼琴，把象鼻放在上面。

Elephants have excellent powers of memory, and many of the elephants Barton plays piano for even have a favorite piece of music. Over the years, Barton has developed a special connection with this herd of elephants, and they will certainly never forget him and his beautiful music.

大象擁有絕佳的記憶力，許多聽巴頓為牠們彈奏鋼琴的大象甚至有自己特別喜愛的曲子。巴頓這些年來與這群大象建立起一種特殊的連繫，而牠們也絕對不會忘記巴頓這個人及其演奏的美妙音樂。