Violinist Joshua Bell performed in a Washington station, as part of experiment to see if we recognise talent in an unexpected context
Violinist Joshua Bell performed in a Washington station, as part of experiment to see if we recognise talent in an unexpected context
From the US of A, the land which famously rallied behind a black president's call to action with a resounding "yes we can", comes this story regarding perception, taste and people's priorities.
It concerns a man with a violin playing six classical Western (Bach) music compositions for about 45 minutes in Washington DC metro station on a cold January morning.
During that time approximately 2,000 people passed through the station, most of them on their way to work.
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After three minutes a middle-aged man noticed there was a musician playing.
Four minutes later the musician received his first dollar: a woman threw the money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk.
After six minutes a young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and went on his way.
Ten minutes later a three-year old boy stopped, but his mother tugged him along in a hurry.
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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.
Several other kids stopped but, each time, their parents forced them to move on quickly.
By the time three quarter of an hour had elapsed, only six people had stopped and listened for a short while.
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About 20 of them gave money, totalling $32 (Rs 1,500), but continued to walk at their normal pace.
No one noticed as the man finished playing after an hour. There was no applause, nor recognition.
Nobody knew that the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the world's greatest musicians.
He had played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin valued at $3.5 million (Rs 16.8 crore).
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Two days earlier, Bell had played before a sell-out crowd at a theatre in Boston where the price of seats averaged $100 (Rs 4,800).
The Washington Post newspaper had organised the incognito performance as part of a social experiment to answer questions about whether in a commonplace environment at an inappropriate hour we perceive beauty and whether we recognise talent in an unexpected context.
The organisers reached one possible conclusion from the experiment: 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 other beautiful aspects of life might we be missing? (Ninemsn)
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