Humans are so weird

August 5, 2015 • 3:30 pm

by Matthew Cobb

A Japanese orchestra playing Beethoven’s Ode to Joy on theremins concealed inside Russian dolls. That’s it really. Eat your hearts out, space aliens – this is why we will control the universe.

Who/what/where/when: “Symphony No.9 and No.9 Boogie” by Matryomin ensemble “Da” (274 players) and Masaki Matsui (Piano) at Create Hamamatsu in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, Japan on 20 July 2013.

h/t @jenlucpiquant

13 thoughts on “Humans are so weird”

  1. Gee whiz Matthew, way back when I was in 7th grade (if I calculate correctly) one could (as he or she can today thanks to the WWW) listen to several universe challenging pieces by John Cage including:

    Imaginary Landscape No. 4 (March No. 2)
    Composed in 1951. Premiered in New York, May 10, 1951.
    For twelve radios (twenty-four players and conductor).

    I had a friend in graduate school in the ’60s who took all this seriously. And then she (wisely) gave up anthropology and became a librarian (a PhD librarian nonetheless.

    1. I wish I could hear a little less polished version, closer to what it was like actually being there. Love the shots of the drummers playing in unison.

  4. Would have been cooler if the thermins were really tiny and the orchestra opened the dolls to reveal smaller and smaller dolls.

  6. I always keep a paper bag handy to put over my head in case space aliens really do come and find out about our religions. Good luck with that application to join the galactic federation.

  8. As soon as I read, “Humans are so weird”, I started thinking, “What have the Japanese done NOW?” It is THEY, not “us” who will rule the universe, if weirdness is a criterion for “rulership”. Where else can you find men marrying robots and dolls; vending machines dispensing used school girl panties, and the strangest games shows on Earth? Their laws force them to pixilate male genitalia in their porno films (insecure male chauvinists), so- what did they come up with? TENTACLE PORN. The new hit movie, “Attack on Titan” is one of the more creepy and bizarre things I’ve ever seen, and- don’t forget: “The Human Centipede”. Thank the universe they’re using their powers for something GOOD in this video!

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