Pearls Before Breakfast - Anonymous Virtuoso + Stradivarius + 1,000 commuters = ? - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

photon · 04-09-2007, 05:31 PM

This is one of the most interesting things I've read in a newspaper lately.

Imagine you're on your way to work, going through the train station, and you see a street musician playing. Do you stop to listen? If he's bad? If he's good? Do you give something?

What if that the musician is Joshua Bell, one of the best players in the world (though you don't know). And the music is some of the most beautiful music written. Ever (though you don't recognize it).

Will people recognize and stop for beauty out of its normal context?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...040401721.html

A long article, but I thought it was worth the read.

GoinAllTheWay · 04-09-2007, 07:16 PM

Well, being a fan of Nickelback will promptly knock me off the list of people with a good ear for music but growing up around a lot of classical music would likely make me stop to listen to that guy, he is VERY good. I also like stringed instruments a lot, not so much a fan of the horns which normaly you see downtown or along the walk to the Saddledome.

Very good article though, good read indeed if not a little sad.

Burninator · 04-09-2007, 09:08 PM

Interesting Article Photon. It's so disappointing that he barely gets any recognition let alone any acknowledgment. Now there is no way I would recognize him, but I would definitely do the very least and look at him.

Last week two days in a row there was a harp player at the train station on my way home from work. Honestly that 30 seconds I got to hear him play as I walked through the train station was very relaxing, especially after the always depressing train ride home. And I am not even a fan of that style of music. There is just something about it, it's so relaxing and peaceful.

Rathji · 04-09-2007, 09:29 PM

I often walk by buskers in Anderson Station later at night if I have to stay at school late. This one lady is not too bad, and if I have some change I toss it her way, but 9/10 times I just walk past anxious to get home... just like the majority of people in the videos.

FlamesAddiction · 04-09-2007, 09:43 PM

It has a lot to do with where he was. He was at an inbetween point of very busy people.

Put him in a park, tourist area, or even a shopping area, and you would see different reactions. It's no different than how most people go about their daily lives never noticing the natural beauty around them, but once they are on holidays, they make a point of watching things like sunsets.

Hakan · 04-09-2007, 10:49 PM

Fantastic read. Good find photon.

The really sad part is that I can't confidently say that I would have stopped and that really makes me feel crappy.

Enjoy the beauty in life because in the end that's all their is.

photon · 04-09-2007, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

It has a lot to do with where he was. He was at an inbetween point of very busy people.

Put him in a park, tourist area, or even a shopping area, and you would see different reactions. It's no different than how most people go about their daily lives never noticing the natural beauty around them, but once they are on holidays, they make a point of watching things like sunsets.

Yeah, that was an interesting part of the article where he started talking about philosophers and beauty and all that. Since I'm so tech oriented I never took stuff like that in school, though I kind of wish I had, it's very interesting.

Plus the part about how kids wanted to stop, always.

Personally, I would have stopped and admired, though I must admit I'm a bit of a talent snob or whatever so I don't usually stop unless they're actually good. But anyone who knows anything about music should be able to see the level this guy was within 10 seconds.

Sparks · 04-09-2007, 11:57 PM

Good find, photon - interesting stuff.

Quote:

Plus the part about how kids wanted to stop, always.

That's probably just a case of novelty. Walking through the subway is boring. A guy playing a violin is a lot more interesting (at least for a few minutes). Kids can't focus like we can, so get distracted easily. Also, the kids wouldn't have a schedule to keep, or at least, one they care about.

And great point FlamesAddiction about the context.

Daradon · 04-10-2007, 12:02 AM

Awesome read.

I think I would have beenone of those who stopped, of course, I've never really cared if I'm late for work. I can see how a lot of the reason people wouldn't stop would be sheer hurry (it is the morning commute) or fear, a lot of people get so bothered by panhandlers and other 'performers' that it has become a nusience and something to be avoided.

I on the other hand, love stopping for a good performer and much prefer to give them change then just some guy standing there with his hat out. As well I really love all types of music which is why I do what I do.

Listening to those vids was BEAUTIFUL!

BlackArcher101 · 04-10-2007, 12:34 AM

Stayed up late just to read that article. Thanks for posting it Photon.

Makes me wonder what kind of talent I've shrugged off and ignored. Next time, I'll make an attempt to listen to the music, and not worry about my public persona of giving in to a begging artist.

Sparks · 04-10-2007, 12:38 AM

What, three of well over a thousand commuters stopped to listen to the guy? And, 3 out of 8 posters in this thread say they definitely would have stopped.

photon · 04-10-2007, 08:31 AM

Lol yeah, it's easy to say when reading the article you already know he's who he is.

I just say that because I've actually done it in the past when I worked downtown; a few times I've stopped on my way to a client or back from lunch or whatever to listen to someone, and if I stop I usually stop until the end of that particular song at least. But like I said, they have to be pretty darn good for me to stop, which is not very nice on my part I guess.

SeeGeeWhy · 04-10-2007, 11:09 AM

I can't believe that more people didn't notice that there was something different about the guy. I saw him play on Late Night with Conan O'Brien one time and it gave me chills. Actually, I loved the performance so much I bought the disc he was promoting (Romance of the Violin) and hired local musicians to perform the same song at my wedding last summer.

Suffice it to say, you would for sure notice the difference between Bell and some dude playing... mind boggling that more people didn't stop to enjoy it. I would have been paralyzed!