Things That Are Awesome
Social Experiments
Joshua Bell
Strads
The Washington Post
The Washington Post Magazine asked Joshua Bell, pretty much the best violinist in the world, to perform at L'Enfant Plaza Metro Station (dressed down and with an open violin case) during rush hour, just to see what would happen. Joshua Bell says, "sounds like fun." Check it out here, and some Q&A here.
The article has some video links, and the audio of his full performance is here. There's what sounds like a kid singing along at about the 29 minute mark. Priceless
I'm not quite sure how to react. I think it's an awesome social experiment, as a "what would happen if..." scenario, as long as you're not trying to "prove" anything going in. I think concluding that "people move too fast to notice the beauty in the world" is too easy. I might have missed the Grammy-winning violinist because I was too busy noticing all the bricks in the floor line up perfectly, which is one of "life's everyday beauties" that puts an extra hop in my step. I don't think it says at all that "people don't appreciate the finer things like classical music," or, conversely, that the author was elitist in trying to impose the musical style as something for everyone. What it might say is that excellence is hard to notice if you aren't looking for it. It's a pretty good reminder that we should seek excellence for excellence's sake alone, because in the rare case that we actually attain it, it doesn't mean that anyone else will know or care.
For what it's worth, I'm nearly positive I would have at least noticed that there was Classical Radio-worthy music being played by someone on the street, and maybe would have paused to take a peek. If nothing else, I'd take the time to figure out why a lone violinist sounds like a trio (looking for the hidden speaker, etc). The skill is pretty hard to miss though, even if you are just listening in the background. I've seen Bell live, but I doubt I would have recognized him unless he started in the same dramatic fashion as he did on stage; bent down, arm cocked, bow pointed straight up. He is amazing.
Joshua Bell
Strads
The Washington Post
The Washington Post Magazine asked Joshua Bell, pretty much the best violinist in the world, to perform at L'Enfant Plaza Metro Station (dressed down and with an open violin case) during rush hour, just to see what would happen. Joshua Bell says, "sounds like fun." Check it out here, and some Q&A here.
The article has some video links, and the audio of his full performance is here. There's what sounds like a kid singing along at about the 29 minute mark. Priceless
I'm not quite sure how to react. I think it's an awesome social experiment, as a "what would happen if..." scenario, as long as you're not trying to "prove" anything going in. I think concluding that "people move too fast to notice the beauty in the world" is too easy. I might have missed the Grammy-winning violinist because I was too busy noticing all the bricks in the floor line up perfectly, which is one of "life's everyday beauties" that puts an extra hop in my step. I don't think it says at all that "people don't appreciate the finer things like classical music," or, conversely, that the author was elitist in trying to impose the musical style as something for everyone. What it might say is that excellence is hard to notice if you aren't looking for it. It's a pretty good reminder that we should seek excellence for excellence's sake alone, because in the rare case that we actually attain it, it doesn't mean that anyone else will know or care.
For what it's worth, I'm nearly positive I would have at least noticed that there was Classical Radio-worthy music being played by someone on the street, and maybe would have paused to take a peek. If nothing else, I'd take the time to figure out why a lone violinist sounds like a trio (looking for the hidden speaker, etc). The skill is pretty hard to miss though, even if you are just listening in the background. I've seen Bell live, but I doubt I would have recognized him unless he started in the same dramatic fashion as he did on stage; bent down, arm cocked, bow pointed straight up. He is amazing.
Labels: Linktastic, Random Thoughts
posted by mmm... @ 4:26 PM
2 Comments:
At 4/12/2007 9:20 AM ,
KendiT said...
Also, I generally stop when I hear things like that assuming I'm not rushing off somewhere. He was there during the morning rush hour when people are on their way to work. I'm betting that more people would have stopped during the afternoon rush hour when people are on their way home.
I read this a few days ago and was like, "Man, I iwhsed that I commuted to L'Enfant Plaza" then I got over it, no matter how amazing Joshua Bell is.
At 5/01/2007 11:02 AM ,
Chandster said...
things that are awesome:
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