Troglodyte sheep invents art-form

There is no doubt among members of the Order that ovicaprids have inspired great works of art. Countless artists have drawn upon their grace, dignity and power, using them as a sort of ruminant Muse. What, though, of the ovicaprids’ own urge to express themselves?

Some glimpse into the creative yearnings of the sheep, at least (we are not told what breed), comes from Indonesian province of Pacitan. For there, we were deeply fascinated to learn from a BBC Worldservice programme, lies the Tabuhan Cave. This cave is called the Cave of Music, for the rock formations therein possess the strange quality that, if struck, they produce a pleasing and tuneful note. Local villagers come to the cave often and so hammer upon the stalagmites and stalactites as to produce a haunting and beautiful music.

Reader, it was not the villagers who discovered the properties of this cave. No; it was not until (many years ago) a shepherd and his flock took refuge there that the discovery was made. For a forever nameless but magnificent sheep came into sharp contact with a stalactite, thereby emitting a sonorous tone and filling the subterranean chamber with unexpected music. A happy accident, many would say; a chance encounter of a high-speed sheep and an immobile rock formation, a random blunder which only serves to illustrate, if anything, the clumsiness of this ruminant. Well, we do not think so. That sheep knew what she was about, and, at a single stroke, expressed herself, created a new musical form, and secured a substantial tourist-income for her village for decades to come.

The villagers still make music in the Tabuhan Cave, though there are fears that their ancient art may be in decline. Whether sheep are permitted to attend – or occasionally perform – is not at the moment clear.