For this band of musicians, it all started with soup. Looking at the ingredients for an evening’s dinner back in 1998, they thought, “We can make music with that.” (Just like we all do, right?) But what started as some creative play with food has turned into a captivating display of musical prowess.
The Vienna Vegetable Orchestra doesn’t simply make noise with carrots and onions or dream up ways for their food to make sounds. In show after show that they’ve performed around the world, they construct new instruments like pepper trumpets and zucchini oboes (because the old ones spoil, of course) to play a range of beautifully composed music. I mean, listen to the composition above—doesn’t it make you want to dance?
Perhaps you find it foolish to waste perfectly edible food on something like this, but I’m completely inspired by the intersection of culture and agriculture. While you’re out in the fields harvesting the season’s squash and apples, maybe take some time to play a pumpkin drum or a leek violin. Just because we’re farming doesn’t mean we can’t also have a little fun!
