PERCEPTION
This was sent to me today and I just had to share it.....
THE SITUATION
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.
Another 6 minutes:
A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.
A further 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.
In the end:
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 theater 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 was 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?
www.schoolofpiping.com
Interesting. Believable. I would say his work in the subway could be viewed as an entire lifetime.
ReplyDeleteWow, Brett, that is amazing. True words. It's always nice to be reminded to stop sometimes and appreciate the beauty around us that the Lord has provided.
ReplyDeleteBlessed are they who see beautiful things in humble places where other people see nothing.
ReplyDeleteah, the joy and adventure of busking...
ReplyDeleteI am surprised that noone stopped to listen. Just today as i worked near Scotch College i heard the pipes in the distance and i listened. I mentioned it to a fellow worker who said" we hear them every day, wish the were in tune" I said " They are in tune and they sounded fantastic" As the other worker continued on working i simply stopped and listened for a while and appreciated their playing.... It is all about priorities...
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