This thought-provoking story made its way into my email inbox for the sixth or seventh time the other day. I re-read it, and it really struck a chord (‘scuse the pun!) with me. In fact, I wanted to learn a little more about the background of the story, so I googled it. The time I’d allotted for a quick blog entry turned into a fascinating hour and a half of reading, writing and reflecting.
I highly encourage you to check out the original Washington Post article. Fascinating stuff. I offer the condensed story here, as a teaser:
***
Washington DC Metro Station on a cold January morning in 2007.
He played six classical pieces for about forty-five minutes. During that time, over a thousand people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.
At 3 minutes, after sixty-three people had already passed obliviously by, a middle-aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried on.
At 4 minutes: The violinist received his first dollar: a woman threw the money in his open case without stopping, as she walked past.
At 6 minutes: A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and continued on his way.
At 10 minutes: A three-year-old boy stopped, but his mother tugged him along hurriedly, as he stood there looking 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. Every parent, without exception, forced them to move on.
For 45 minutes, the musician played. Only 7 people, total, stopped and stayed for at least one minute. 27 gave him money, but most continued to walk their normal pace. He collected $32. 1,070 other people hurried by, few even noticing his presence.
He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.
No one knew this: The violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the best musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a Stradivarius – a violin worth $3.5 million dollars. Two days before, Joshua Bell had sold out 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 people’s priorities.
The questions raised: in a commonplace environment, in the midst of day-to-day busyness, do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize talent or genius in an unexpected context?
The most fundamental question raised by this experiment might be:
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 ….What else might we be missing?
***
Indeed. May your (and my!) life never be so busy that we miss the beauty that surrounds and fills us.
Namaste.
