Would you know beauty if it were right in front of you?
- Beth37posted 10 years ago
0"A man sat at a metro station in Washington DC and started to play the 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 1,100 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 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, and 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 3 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 6 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 most talented musicians in the world. He had just played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, on a violin worth $3.5 million dollars.
Two days before his playing in the subway, Joshua Bell sold out at 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 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 recognize the 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?"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnOPu0_YWhw
(http://www.snopes.com/music/artists/bell.asp)Indeed.
- Beth37posted 10 years ago0
- calculus-geometryposted 10 years ago0
Don't worry about it. If it was meant to find it's way back, it will.
What could one expect from the squirrels running up the treadmill? They just have to run faster in order to stay in the same place. All their life is spent chasing a mirage, just like greyhounds chase a fake hare on the track. Missing all the beauty on their way, they found an ugly gaping grave hole.
Related Discussions
- 23
In a banal setting at an inconvienent time, would beauty transcend?
Would we stop to appreciate it? Would we recognize talent in an unexpected context?
- 16
Why did you stop playing a musical instrument?
Why did you stop playing a musical instrument?If you have previously learned an instrument, but have stopped playing - why did you stop? Do you miss it? What could inspire you to pick it back up?
- 12
What was the first videogame you ever played?
What was the first videogame you ever played?
- 82
What piece of music affects you emotionally?
I'm a musician and know the power and value of music. I'm curious what people find emotional in music (and looking for trends for a paper I'm going to write).It's very simple - post the name of a piece of music that moves you to tears, causes a lump in your throat or affects you emotionally. For...
- 17
Book: The Greatest Book Ever Written; The Greatest Story Ever Told
The Greatest Book Ever Written; The Greatest Story Ever Told by Angie B. Williams (March 23, 2024)https://discover.hubpages.com/religion- … er-writtenThis compilation published at HubPages.com is inspired by a word prompt offered by Brenda Alrledge with her series for week 67. That word...
- 20
How do you define "handsome" or "beautiful?"
How do you define "handsome" or "beautiful?"For example, I have had people tell me that someone is handsome and I look at them and think, "Huh?" They look very nice, sort of...but handsome? I don't think so. Apparently, beauty really is in the eye of the beholder? In...