You're walking through a Japanese forest on the southern island of Kyushu. Among the trees you hear the sounds of bird song. A gentle breeze rustles the leaves. A melody you've heard before rings faintly through the air. What is that? Bach. 

This magical experience is real, thanks to Creative Director Morihiro Harano and his team at Mori Inc.

In a collaboration with the carpenter Mitsuo Tsuda and sound engineer Kenjiro Matsuo, they made and placed an enormous xylophone that's designed to play Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring—the final movement to Bach's renowned cantata Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben. 

The xylophone is made of hundreds of pieces of different-sized wood; each panel along its length makes a different sound when it's struck by a cascading wooden ball placed at the top of instrument.  

This magical experience is real, thanks to Creative Director Morihiro Harano and his team at Mori Inc.

In a collaboration with the carpenter Mitsuo Tsuda and sound engineer Kenjiro Matsuo, they made and placed an enormous xylophone that's designed to play Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring—the final movement to Bach's renowned cantata Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben. 

The xylophone is made of hundreds of pieces of different-sized wood; each panel along its length makes a different sound when it's struck by a cascading wooden ball placed at the top of instrument.  

A behind-the-scenes video of how it was made is a fascinating watch.

But for now, how about a little break to watch the xylophone in action?

(HEAR the instrument in action in the video below.) 

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