—Once at
Washington, DC, at a metro station, on a cold January morning. A man with a
violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time,
approximately 2000 people went through the station, most of them on their way
to work. After 3 minutes, a middle age man notice that there was a music
playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for 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.
At 6 minutes:
A young man leaned
against the wall to listen him, Then looked at his watch and start to walk
again.
At 10 minutes:
A 3-year old boy
stopped, but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. 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 and continue to walk at their normal pace. The man collected a total
of $32.
After one hour:
He finished his
playing. No one noticed and no one applauded. there was no recognition at all.
The violinist was Joshua bell, one of greatest musician 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 seat
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
D.C. post newspaper as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and
people’s priorities.
This experience
raised several questions: in a common place environment, at an inappropriate
hour, do we perceive beauty?
If we do not have a
movement to stop and listen to the one of the best musician in the world,
playing some of the finest music in the world, played some of finest music ever
written, with one of most beautiful instruments ever made. How many other
things are missing as we rush through life.
