Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
..found on Facebook....
"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?" By: Josh Nonnenmoc.
Guest 710- Registered: 28 Feb 2011
- Posts: 6,950
" how many other things are we missing"
Their train, their connection, their start time, their wages, their job, their respect, their future...
I remember Reggie Perrin with his, "10 minutes late, Wildebeest on the line at Penge."
What bonus-driven manager is going to appreciate, "Sorry I'm late, I was listening to a Fugue." ?
What of our authorities and the 'busking' regulations?
On the whole, quite right though. We should be free to wonder at something as lovely as a tree, to "Stand and stare" as the poet has it.
This thread makes a welcome change, if not departure, from the norm.
[I think that the violinist bringing his own till would have been a clue.]
Ignorance is bliss, bliss is happiness, I am happy...to draw your attention to the possible connectivity in the foregoing.
Guest 700- Registered: 11 Jun 2010
- Posts: 2,868
Very true!
Life is not a race,
Do take it slower
Hear the Music
Before the song is over...
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Lincolnshire Born and Bred
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
A good story Barry and in a way, describes modern life - life's too fast.
Maybe a subway is the wrong place to try and earn a crust, people are always either rushing to work or rushing home; maybe the $32 are from those just travelling.
Roger
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
From each of us Vic, or in total ??
Roger
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
People will be paying you a £5 not to sing or play Vic.
Roger
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
In a way that story reminds me of this one:
A meteorology professor stood before his Meteorology 101 class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly he picked up a very large and empty glass mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.
The professor then picked up a jar of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles, of course, rolled into the open spaces between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.
The professor picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar and of course the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with an unanimous yes.
The professor then produced two cans of beer from under the table and then proceeded to pour the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the grains of sand. The students laughed.
"Now," said the professor, as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things -- your family, your partner, your health, your children, your friends, your favorite passions -- things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.
"The pebbles are the other things that matter, like your job, your house, your car. The sand is everything else -- the small stuff.
"If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for your life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out dancing. Play another 18.
"There will always be time to go to work, clean the house, give a dinner party and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls first -- the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."
One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the beer represented. The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of beers."
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
Done £5 from each of you will get both my wife and me back to Spain,to see the new year in.
Guest 657- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,037
Great stories Barry and Peter, makes you think.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
I'd heard that one before, Peter and it is a very good story; I believe it is a good way to look at life - but how many do ?
Roger
