This gestural sketch of an elephant was one of a series that I drew during a trip to an elephant resort in Thailand. After learning about Asian elephants and their symbiotic relationship with humans, our small group was led to an athletic field where the elephants would play soccer. Not only could I ride atop an elephant beforehand and feel its lumbering but graceful rhythms; I could even experience its earnest attempt to perform successfully for human entertainment, and then even perceive its ultimate humiliation. Otherwise, the elephants were treated well, and when left to roam in the jungle at night, could retain their integrity and be wild.
This improvised instrumental for two guitars with its changing rhythms, recurring melodies, pause, and cascading cadence to a major seventh chordal resolution reached perfection in its understatement and brevity. It seemed appropriate to accompany the sketch delineating an elephant’s triumph over any perceived fallibility in a game devised by humans.
My experience parallels the beautiful elephants: soccer games set up by parents can also make children feel small and lumbering