What is this life........... A true story

jon_b

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Something to think about... A true Story from Wahington DC .....

In Washington , DC , at a Metro Station, on a cold January morning in 2007, this man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time, approximately 2,000 people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.
After about 3 minutes.... a middle-aged man noticed that there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds, and then he hurried on to meet his schedule.

About 4 minutes later:

The violinist received his first dollar. A woman threw money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk.

At 6 minutes:

A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.

At 10 minutes:

A 3-year old boy stopped, but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head the whole time. This action was repeated by several other children, but every parent - without exception - forced their children to move on quickly.

At 45 minutes:

The musician played continuously. Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace. The man collected a total of $32.

After 1 hour:

He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed and no one applauded. There was no recognition at all.

No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest 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 sold-out a theatre in Boston where the seats averaged $100 each to sit and listen to him play the same music.

This is a true story. Joshua Bell, playing incognito in the D.C. Metro Station, was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people's priorities.

This experiment raised several questions:
* In a common-place environment, at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty?
* If so, do we stop to appreciate it?
* Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?

One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this:
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 ever made . . . How many other things are we missing as we rush through life?

W. H. Davies wrote ... "WHAT is this life if, full of care, We have no time to stand and stare?"
 
Interesting experiment, the human brain works largely on stereotypes.

- music on a metro station - > poor man -> probably low quality and not worth a shit.

The environment in which objects are placed affects our perception a great deal.

I myself probably wouldn't have paid any attention too.

:sm (41):
 
Sadly - I think I would have done the same!!! :(

Made me stop and think a bit.
 
I would've stopped and listened but when you're out shopping with other people around you while tugging on bags of groceries you have to leave the site. Jon_b, you're so cool I could kiss you but than that would be weird.
 
I would've stopped and listened but when you're out shopping with other people around you while tugging on bags of groceries you have to leave the site. Jon_b, you're so cool I could kiss you but than that would be weird.

I may not be 2 cute - but I do enjoy a nice kiss!!! - but since we haven't got there yet - here is a nice (non-kissing) hug instead!

:sm (63):

jon
 
I think I would've stopped if I heard how exceptional the music was. I stop to listen when I hear something beautiful and I have heard some beautiful stuff in the subway. Sadly I don't usually give anything but I have purchased a cd a group of Andean flute players were selling. Their music touched me deeply. Here's one they played and I stopped to hear, it sounded just like this. It's beautiful, this is originally a Peruvian song but Simon and Garfunkel became inspired by it and used it for their song in case anyone here thinks it's just a cover.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-V5mpJ8iA38&feature=related
 
Yes, Andean music can be beautiful and deeply moving.. There was a beautiful album in the 1980s called 'On the wing of a condor' or 'Panpipes of the Andes' (think it's the same album by different names), by a band called Incantation - and a ballet using the music, I remebr seeing once on TV
 
That was an interesting experiment. I do think that the environment shades our perception of things. When in the subway, I will listen to the artists playing or street performers while I wait for the train, but here in Boston anyway, the subway is no place to hang out and listen.
 
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