4 minutes later:
the violinist received his first dollar: a woman threw the money in the hat 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. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but 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 their children to move on quickly.
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.
1 hour:
He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.
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 theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100.
This is a true 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 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?
Hear him play...would you have stopped to listen ?
10 comments:
Aunty Anne,
Kinda like u need to stop and smell the roses too sometimes, right? purrr....meow!
Whoa! A philosophical cat has spoken...
I would have been in too much hurry to stop but I would have enjoyed listening as I walked to the platform. He plays beautifully too.
Yes cat,
Precisely that!
Careful before you turn into an owl-cat!
Zendra,
I think that's what the whole experiment was about...as a people, we citizen of the earth are just too caught up hurrying somewhere, we forget that the journey matters as much as the destination.
Wonder if it's Beyonce in tatters singing and dancing her heart out...would the outcome of the experiment be different?
What do you think?
Anne, I wouldn't have been able to see her for the male crowd hahaha
Zendra,
You got it! Hahahah!
Th whole experiment should be repeated with a woman!
Well Anne, it really depends on keadaan, but I for one will stop at the promoter's booth and listen to what he has to 'blabber' abt his products.
BTW, how r you? Where have you been lately?? Still jaga baby sedara ke?
CS,
Kinda like stopping by the crowd around the guy selling minyak angin ek? I'm always keen to hear what's keeping the rest enthralled! Heran!
I'm still around , but I've caught the lazy bug..zzzzzzzz!
..would i stopped and listened..? but this coot stopped at every blind musician playing at pasar malam and sidewalks..sometimes to sing along with them..maybe becos Im old, retired and have time to spare..
sALAM pAK MAT,
Then you must be an adorable coot! I do stop by too although their repertoire can be quite limited, but I've got to watch out for a voice singing along with them...who knows it might be you!
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