fiddler in the Sub way

[wheelinround]

A man sat at a metro station in Washington DC and began to play a 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 a 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 03 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 06 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 best musicians in the world.

He played some 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 theatre in Boston and the seats average $100.

This is a real story.

Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station which was organised by the Washington Post as part of a 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 recognise 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 best musicians in the world playing the best music ever written,

How many other things are we missing?

[tea lady]

Could also be that no matter how talented you are, if you go to the wrong place to sell, no body notices and you don't make any money.

[underfoot]

Could also be that no matter how talented you are, if you go to the wrong place to sell, no body notices and you don't make any money.

Hmmm,
that may explain my lack of earnings when busking at the entrance to the Metallica concert,
although, judging by the facial expressions, many were clearly impressed by my rendition of "girl from Ipanema" on the piano accordion

[reef12]

Good Read
Thanks for sharing that.

[ian]

Alternatively,
the people who use the Washington subway are mostly Philistines
(I think people who live in Boston would agree)

I had a similar experience two years ago in the Paris metro
moving from one line to another at a junction of two tunnels come across a small band playing classical music.
only a smallish crowd, but everyone within sight slowed to listen or at least acknowledge the musicians
went past in the opposite direction a few hours later and the band was packing up looking really happy with themselves


ian

[reef12]

Alternatively,
the people who use the Washington subway are mostly Philistines
(I think people who live in Boston would agree)

I had a similar experience two years ago in the Paris metro
moving from one line to another at a junction of two tunnels come across a small band playing classical music.
only a smallish crowd, but everyone within sight slowed to listen or at least acknowledge the musicians
went past in the opposite direction a few hours later and the band was packing up looking really happy with themselves


ian

Most are Philistines on the East Coast.

How do I know lived there 20 years.

Thanks again.