...or listen to the music as the case may be. DH found this and is saving it for a sermon illustration. It's a powerful example of missing the beauty of the world amidst the busy-ness of our lives. Enjoy!

Ignored Beauty

By Sandysmom on Sunday, April 15, 2007 - 05:04 pm:

Wow, that really is something. If his free concert had been advertised, I wonder how many people would have stopped and listened just because they knew he was a professional. It's sad really.

By Kate on Sunday, April 15, 2007 - 05:11 pm:

Welllll....I understand the point, but it specifically says he played in a subway station during D.C.'s rush hour. I'm not sure it's a fair 'test'. Who has the time to stop when they are due at work or expected home for dinner with their family? I'm sure many would have liked to stop and simply couldn't.

By Nicki on Sunday, April 15, 2007 - 05:29 pm:

Ditto, Kate. In this particular setting, he appears to me more of a street musician playing for donations. His music is beautiful, but I would rather stop and listen when I've paid for the seat, and I'm prepared to listen to a concert. This does not demonstrate to me a general lack of "missing the beauty", rather choosing when to enjoy it to it's fullest. I can only imagine the number of people in this subway station who are on their way home and eager to see their children's faces for the first time in many hours. Now that's beauty.:-)

By Amecmom on Sunday, April 15, 2007 - 06:18 pm:

Wow! Coming from NY I was subject to all sorts of street musicians in the subway. Because I love all things musical, I often stopped for a moment if someone showed particular talent or skill. I wondered - with all the virtuosi living in the city if some were pros who just wanted to practice around others.
I think most people sadly just tune out what's going on around them, especially in a subway. They're too stuck in their own heads to listen to what's going on.
I agree, Pam. Too many did miss the beauty. It would have been amazing to watch a virtuoso that close.
I remember a concert at Carnegie Hall where the violinist was playing some diaboically fast piece. Just watching him was a treat - and we were so far.
Imagine - to be that close. To hear that music -to acutally feel the vibrations of that violin without a sound system bringing it to you ...
I'd have missed my train ...
Ame

By Dawnk777 on Sunday, April 15, 2007 - 07:56 pm:

Washington Post article

He started playing at 7:51am, so these people were rushing TO work, not home. The article is very interesting. I would love to see a more slowed-down video, to see the detail that the article talked about, like children trying to listen, as they are being pulled towards daycare, with their parents. I'm sure I would have noticed that caliber of playing, but since I'm always rushing about, at the last minute, I probably wouldn't have had time to stop.

By Ginny~moderator on Sunday, April 15, 2007 - 09:59 pm:

I heard this on NPR today, with a few minutes of his playing, and the music was unbelievably wonderful. When I was working in Center City Philadelphia and taking the train, there were always some musicians in the train station - some fairly good, some not so good. I always stopped to listen to the good ones, for at least a minute, and to smile and say "thank you" as I went on my way. But then, I was blessed with a mother who, over the years, taught/trained me to catch the moment and take pleasure in it, no matter what else was going on in my life. One of the many wonderful things my mom did for me.