Results 1 to 10 of 10

Can't judge a violinist by it's violin

This is a discussion on Can't judge a violinist by it's violin within the Off topic forum forums, part of the General category; This was sent to me in an email, so i could not properly link it, but thought it merited being ...

  1. #1
    tomorrowstreasures is offline Senior Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Midwest - USA
    Posts
    1,940
    My Photos
    Please ask before editing my photos

    Default Can't judge a violinist by it's violin

    This was sent to me in an email, so i could not properly link it, but thought it merited being shared. A very, very powerful message it sent to me. Would love to know the impact it has on you!
    Susan

    Name:  image.jpg
Views: 488
Size:  16.3 KB



    Washington, DC Metro Station on a cold January morning. A man with a violin plays six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time approx. 2 thousand people passed through the station, most of them on their way to work. After 3 minutes a middle-aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried to meet his schedule.

    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 valued at $3.5 million dollars. Two days before, Joshua Bell sold out a theatre in Boston where the price of 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 commonplace 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... what else are we missing?

    LINK (WITH SOME VIDEO) ADDED BY ADMIN - http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...040401721.html
    Last edited by Marko; 10-15-2009 at 01:37 PM.

  2. #2
    kat
    kat is offline Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Vancouver
    Posts
    4,329
    My Photos
    Please ask before editing my photos
    Critiques
    Only critique photos posted in the critique forum

    Default

    Wonderful thread tt! Definitely makes one ponder!

  3. #3
    Marko's Avatar
    Marko is offline Administrator
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Location
    Montreal, QC. Canada
    Posts
    14,870
    My Photos
    Please do NOT edit my photos
    Critiques
    Critique my photos anywhere in the forum

    Default

    VERY intriguing thread TT - It causes you to think quite a bit.

    We all have so much BS constantly churning in our heads that it's really hard to hear the music, even when it's being played by a master. Only kids have the time to marvel at the magic whenever it happens. Adults are too busy thinking about mortgages/work/responsibilities.

    Thx for sharing!!

    Marko
    - Please connect with me further
    Photo tours of Montreal - Private photography courses
    - Join the new Photography.ca Facebook page
    - Follow me on Twitter http://twitter.com/markokulik
    - Follow me on Google+ https://plus.google.com/u/0/111159185852360398018/posts
    - Check out the photography podcast


    "You have to milk the cow quite a lot, and get plenty of milk to get a little cheese." Henri Cartier-Bresson from The Decisive Moment.

  4. #4
    JAS_Photo's Avatar
    JAS_Photo is offline Senior Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    Calgary
    Posts
    7,359
    My Photos
    Please ask before editing my photos
    Critiques
    Critique my photos anywhere in the forum

    Default

    Cool stuff! I guess people have a tendency to devalue things because of their context.

  5. #5
    Greg_Nuspel's Avatar
    Greg_Nuspel is offline Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Calgary
    Posts
    1,947
    My Photos
    Please ask before editing my photos

    Default

    Here's an experiment, next time there is a stunning sunrise or the moon is on the horizon while on the way to work, ask your fellow workers what they thought of it. Bet you most didn't notice it.
    --Greg Nuspel

    I've been sucked into the void of video!!!!!!!

    Flickr

    Vimeo

  6. #6
    casil403's Avatar
    casil403 is offline Senior Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Calgary Canada
    Posts
    6,612
    My Photos
    Please do NOT edit my photos
    Critiques
    Only critique photos posted in the critique forum

    Default

    I have to wonder...how many people walked past him with their heads down furiously texting into their Blackberry or cellphone while wearing earbuds connected to their IPod?

    I've seen alot of that lately and it really disturbs me.....people just don't connect with people anymore...kinda sad really.
    "Life is like photography, we develop from the negatives"-anonymous
    My website: www.albertaandbeyond.com

  7. #7
    Greg_Nuspel's Avatar
    Greg_Nuspel is offline Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Calgary
    Posts
    1,947
    My Photos
    Please ask before editing my photos

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by casil403 View Post
    I have to wonder...how many people walked past him with their heads down furiously texting into their Blackberry or cellphone while wearing earbuds connected to their IPod?

    I've seen alot of that lately and it really disturbs me.....people just don't connect with people anymore...kinda sad really.
    The parent with their kids at the zoo and a cellphone permanently attached to their ear.
    --Greg Nuspel

    I've been sucked into the void of video!!!!!!!

    Flickr

    Vimeo

  8. #8
    tomorrowstreasures is offline Senior Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Midwest - USA
    Posts
    1,940
    My Photos
    Please ask before editing my photos

    Default

    points well taken. to add, how about the growing "at risk" population that educators have to deal with everyday, not to mention tax payers and society in general. to me, it such a no brainer. open your eyes. seize the moment. the tiniest things in life are what our children hang on to forever.

  9. #9
    Mad Aussie's Avatar
    Mad Aussie is offline Moderator
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    Brisbane, Qld, Australia
    Posts
    14,098
    My Photos
    Please ask before editing my photos

    Default

    Don't just look ... 'SEE.' Don't just listen ... 'HEAR.' Don't just touch ...'FEEL.'

  10. #10
    Iguanasan's Avatar
    Iguanasan is offline Moderator
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Halifax, NS
    Posts
    10,917
    My Photos
    Please feel free to edit my photos
    Critiques
    Critique my photos anywhere in the forum

    Default

    I almost didn't slow to "listen" to this. I find that I now that I'm hauling a camera around everywhere looking for that next shot that I see a lot more than I used to see.

    Very cool post. Thanks for sharing!
    “If you are out there shooting, things will happen for you. If you’re not out there, you’ll only hear about it.” – Jay Maisel
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    Feel free to edit my shots ONLY for use on this forum and critique my shots in ANY discussion area.
    Flickr | Blog | Google+

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36