Chinese brothers create vegetable orchestra

The idea of playing music with vegetables came to Nan Weidong, 43, and Nan Weiping, 41, only two years ago, but it has since become a passion and a career.

The tow brothers could already play conventional instruments and had been doing so since they were children, when they learnt from their father. Now they spend their days drilling holes in carrots, marrows and other fresh produce, making instruments that they bring to perfection with the use of an old electronic tuner.

They say that the different vegetables have different scales and therefore suit different melodies - a sweet potato makes an ocarina, a bamboo shoot becomes a flute, a yam, a whistle.

But controlling the pitch is still extremely difficult, because changes in the air temperature, humidity and other factors can warp the shape of the holes and put the notes out of tune.

The Nan brothers, whose repertoire ranges from traditional Chinese flute music to modern pop to western folk songs like Auld Lang Syne, have appeared on talent shows in China and can receive payments of 30,000 to 50,000 yuan (5,000 USD to 7,800 USD) for a performance.