「對牛彈琴」不再只是揶揄般的寓言故事,如今真有牛農找來音樂家,演奏給牛隻聽,希望讓牛的心情更好、讓牛肉更好吃!
來自哥本哈根的牛農Louise Haugaard,日前和當地的音樂學院Scandinavian Cello School合作,在學院創辦人Jacob Shaw的籌組之下,多名大提琴樂手受邀進到牛棚裡,就在牛隻面前演奏柴可夫斯基(Tchaikovsky)的《奇想曲》(Pezzo Capriccioso)。
神奇的是,演奏開始後,牛群也默默朝樂手靠近,直盯著他們看,彷彿真的聽得懂音樂似的,且演奏期間,牛隻不躁動也不吵鬧,直到指揮放下手、演奏完畢,牛隻才又如常發出「哞哞」的叫聲。
“Classical music is very good for humans,” said Louise Haugaard, a cattle farmer in Denmark. “It helps us relax, and cows can tell whether we’re relaxed or not. It makes sense that it would make them feel good too.” https://t.co/mzxxoBELYT pic.twitter.com/tq4CFvUiuu
— New York Times Arts (@nytimesarts) April 28, 2021
之所以會有如此發想,牛農Louise Haugaard表示,多年前他曾至日本的和牛飼養地參訪,當時他便看見日本牛農也會放古典樂給牛聽,據說這樣可以讓牛的心情更加愉悅,宰殺後的牛肉會更好吃,因此他便決定仿效這樣的作法。
Cattle farmer Louise Haugaard can't be sure whether her cows actually enjoy watching live cello performances, but she thinks they're pretty into it. https://t.co/Wq6IZDtQXf
— As It Happens (@cbcasithappens) April 30, 2021
除了請來大提琴樂手,現場為牛隻演奏以外,Louise Haugaard平時也經常在牛棚播放舒緩心情的音樂,或是經常撫摸牛隻、陪在牠們身邊,把牠們當成寵物般疼愛。