can you tell a virtuoso from a hobo?

Apr 09, 2007 21:48

What happens when arguably the best violinist in the world, posing as a street musician, gives a free 45-minute performance in the middle of the morning rush at a D.C. subway station? Everyone pretty much ignores him. I know people are busy, and maybe classical music isn't very popular but, wow....What other really cool things is our collective ( Read more... )

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tevarin April 10 2007, 04:17:58 UTC
Wow, that's a good (and sad) story. I know for darn sure I'm too busy, too likely to miss anything outside my current focus of my thoughts.

And yet (as you point out) Bell was up against another, perhaps bigger problem. Most people these days don't like classical music. If he had been playing the Star Wars theme, or "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" or some other well-known piece, I think he'd have gotten a much better reception. I know I'd have been more likely to stay and listen myself.

Maybe 1700's classical music really isn't that good, with a mere few thousands of musicians to draw on compared to the millions recording and composing today. Or maybe the beauty of music is so dependent on cultural background, associated memories, etc. for everyone but a few elite audiophiles, that even a great example from a foreign form is at a severe disadvantage.

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thisgirliknow April 10 2007, 12:18:09 UTC
That's pretty sad. Then again, and this is speaking from a musician's point of view, I'm not sure how likely I would be to stop and listen. I'm on my way to work, I'm probably in a hurry, and the music doesn't have a particular calling to me. Like Matthew said, if I knew the music, I'd probably be more likely to stop.

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