Joshua Bell "Stop and Hear the Music" by the Washington Post

[bridgit]

'A man sat at a metro station in Washington DC and started to play the violin; it was a cold January morning. He played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time, since it was rush hour, it was calculated that thousands` of people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.

Three minutes went by and a middle aged man noticed there was musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried up to meet his schedule.

A minute later, the violinist received his first dollar tip: a woman threw the money in the till and without stopping continued to walk.

A few minutes later, someone leaned against the wall to listen to him, but the man looked at his watch and started to walk again. Clearly he was late for work. The one who paid the most attention was a 3 year old boy. His mother tagged him along, hurried but the kid stopped to look at the violinist. Finally the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. All the parents, without exception, forced them to move on.

In the 45 minutes the musician played, only 6 people stopped and stayed for a while. About 20 gave him money but continued to walk their normal pace. He collected $32. When he finished playing and silence took over, no one noticed it. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.

No one knew this but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the finest musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written,with a violin worth 3.5 million dollars. Two days before his playing in the subway, Joshua Bell sold out at a theater in Boston and the seats average $100.

This is a real story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of an social experiment about perception, taste and priorities of people.

The outlines were: in a commonplace environment at an inappropriate hour: Do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize the talent in an unexpected context?

One of the possible conclusions from this experience could be:

If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the finest musicians in the world playing the finest music ever written...................

How many other things are we missing?'

Joshua Bell "Stop and Hear the Music"

[mainer]

1. I read the WP article when this happened

And the reporter interviewed the few people who actually stopped to listen. I recall that most of them had studied violin when they were kids, so they appreciated the skill of this "anonymous" violinist in the metro station.

Sometimes, it takes a little knowledge for a person to recognize true artistry.

Also interesting that the one woman who actually spoke to Bell (at the end of the clip) was an Asian woman. I think Americans have lost their appreciation for classical music, but it seems to be alive and well among Asians and Asian Americans.

[mdmc]

2. support the arts so the arts will support us

:toast:

[bridgit]

3. Yes. And as it turns out, the fact this post sat here @ DU in similar anonymity is further proof...

that even amongst so-called 'hip' people the arts are of little or no value at all; not really. Obama places monies for the arts at the NEA and for what? Why bother? Certainly stop 'acting' pissed at people arguing against such matters if one is not prepared to invest at least the attentions one's self.

A republican argument is too easily made that those monies would be better spent elsewhere than to sit at the feet of a nation with no inclination toward; or appreciation of the arts. Not being able to make the argument in favor will mean that Obama's designs on stimulus will be extended out then more likely to be taken apart like yesterday's tinker toys oh well

These, and as well the 'now' republican argument, against even monies for the transition into digital broadcasting is even more specious imo; when it was they that colluded with the broadcasting/broadband providers not for the ultimate benefit of the American people (especially in that none of it has taken place i.e. super information highways, etc, America falling 17th I think it was in providing broadband services), but to appear 'hip' while handing their donor base an expanded product line *at* the expense of the American people...

Vast parts of America are still operating on analog rabbit ears; assisting them in making the transition to digital will improve product delivery, introduce a host of products already, in many cases, having fallen to within affordable price ranges. Then come the products, the positioning of services and careers; a view of an America greater than the sum of her parts.

Maestro Bell's point is very well taken. If it matters at all; someone has to take the affirmative position on the furtherance of the arts, as a mere for instance but surely other creative endeavor as well; and the products & technologies that will deliver their fruits...

I have yet to hear any Dem making those cases or running up the numbers in the affirmative, they are in the process of surrendering that ground to republicans who are clearly known in advance to have many pointed arguments against anything Dem inspired

[mainer]

4. I'm surprised more people didn't comment.

I found this experiment by Bell a fascinating one. And, I'm sorry to say, it's a sad commentary on the state of culture in America. Anyone who's tried to learn to play the violin understands what a damn difficult thing it is to master. But if you've never even tried, then you'd probably shrug and say, "so what? It's just pulling a bow over a bunch of strings." Just as they probably say, "quantum physics? It's just writing a bunch of numbers on a blackboard."

Ignorance, I'm afraid, is rife in this country. Of so many things.