I know myself I would have walked right on by without giving it much of a thought. Why? I appreciate the talent to play the violin but don't appreciate the violin. Not my cup of tea. It's nice background music, sounds nice at a dinner party or in an elevator or even in a subway station. And who says he is the best musician in the world? Did we poll everyone on earth and Joshua Bell came out the hands down winner...well they didn't poll me for I had no idea who JB was before I read this article. Art/Music is a matter of self and nothing more. Just because a few stuffed shirts get together and say this guy is a master, look at his technique doesn't make me want to drink the kool-aid. Now if they pasted up say a British quad to War of the Worlds in that subway you bet your ass I'm stopping and taking a gander...to each their own.
________________________________ From: MoPo List [mailto:mop...@listserv.american.edu] On Behalf Of Bruce Hershenson Sent: Saturday, December 12, 2009 7:56 PM To: MoPo-L@LISTSERV.AMERICAN.EDU Subject: Re: [MOPO] Very OT (but worth reading!): What are we missing? I know Kirby well, and if he had been in the Metro that day, I bet he would have ruined their video by stopping, listening to the end, and then giving Mr. Bell well deserved applause! On Sat, Dec 12, 2009 at 6:33 PM, Kirby McDaniel <ki...@movieart.net> wrote: I saw Joshua Bell play the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto in Austin about 10 years ago. He is worth stopping for! Kirby McDaniel On Dec 12, 2009, at 2:32 PM, Bruce Hershenson wrote: > I was forwarded this by a good friend (I hope you can spare a minute to read it): > > What are we missing? > > Washington DC Metro Station on a cold January morning in 2007. A violinist played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time approx 2 thousand people went through the station, most of them on their way to work. After 3 minutes a middle aged man not...iced there was a musician playing.. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried to meet his schedule. > > 4 minutes later:the violinist received his first dollar: a woman threw the money in the till and, without stopping, continued to walk. > > 6 minutes:A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again. > > 10 minutes:A 3 year old boy stopped but his mother tugged him along hurriedly, as 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. Every parent, without exception, forced them to move on. > > 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. > > 1hour:He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition. > . > . > . > . > . > . > . > . > Comment: No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the best 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, Joshua Bell had sold out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100. This is a real story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about > perception, taste and people's priorities. The questions raised: in a common place environment at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context? > > One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be:If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ..... then how many other things are we missing? > > P.S. I verified this story as true on Snopes > Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com > ___________________________________________________________________ > How to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List > Send a message addressed to: lists...@listserv.american.edu > In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF MOPO-L > The author of this message is solely responsible for its content. > Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com ___________________________________________________________________ How to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List Send a message addressed to: lists...@listserv.american.edu In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF MOPO-L The author of this message is solely responsible for its content. _____________ The information contained in this message is proprietary and/or confidential. If you are not the intended recipient, please: (i) delete the message and all copies; (ii) do not disclose, distribute or use the message in any manner; and (iii) notify the sender immediately. In addition, please be aware that any message addressed to our domain is subject to archiving and review by persons other than the intended recipient. Thank you. _____________ Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com ___________________________________________________________________ How to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List Send a message addressed to: lists...@listserv.american.edu In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF MOPO-L The author of this message is solely responsible for its content.
