Violinist on the subway - a social experiment
- Transfer
This is an unusually sad story from which I had goosebumps. This is a social experiment about the perception, taste and priorities of people.
On a cold January morning, a man settled down at Washington metro station and began to play the violin. For 45 minutes he played 6 pieces. During this time, since it was rush hour, more than a thousand people passed by, most of whom were on their way to work.
After three minutes, a middle-aged man drew attention to the musician. He slowed down, stopped for a few moments and ... hastened on his own business.
A minute later, the violinist received his first earnings: a woman threw money into the case and, without stopping, continued her step.
A few minutes later, the man leaned against the wall and began to listen, but, soon, he looked at his watch and continued on.
The musician got the most attention from a three-year-old boy. His mother led him in a hurry, but the boy stopped to look at the violinist. Mom pulled a little harder and the boy continued to move, constantly looking back. This situation was repeated with several other children. Without exception, their parents did not let them linger for a minute.
For 45 minutes of the game, only 6 people stopped for a short while and listened, another 20, without stopping, threw money. The musician earned $ 32.
None of the passersby knew that the violinist was Joshua Bell - one of the best musicians in the world. He played one of the most difficult works ever written, and the instrument was the Stradivarius violin, worth $ 3.5 million.
Two days before the performance on the subway, at his concert in Boston, where the average ticket price was $ 100, there was a full house.
Joshua Bell’s subway game is part of a Washington Post social experiment on people's perceptions, tastes, and priorities. The principles of which were: in an everyday environment at the wrong time: Do we feel the beauty? Will we stop to appreciate it? Is talent recognizable in an unexpected setting?
One of the conclusions from this experiment may be as follows:
If we can’t find time to stop for a while and listen to the best ever written music performed by one of the best musicians on the planet; if the pace of modern life is so all-consuming that we become blind and deaf to such things, then what else are we missing?
PS This is a translation of an article written based on the essay of the Washington Post , which received the Pulitzer Prize. The essay is without a doubt more accurate and detailed, but since this is my first translation, I will not master it.
PPS For the reason mentioned above, please do not judge strictly :)
On a cold January morning, a man settled down at Washington metro station and began to play the violin. For 45 minutes he played 6 pieces. During this time, since it was rush hour, more than a thousand people passed by, most of whom were on their way to work.
After three minutes, a middle-aged man drew attention to the musician. He slowed down, stopped for a few moments and ... hastened on his own business.
A minute later, the violinist received his first earnings: a woman threw money into the case and, without stopping, continued her step.
A few minutes later, the man leaned against the wall and began to listen, but, soon, he looked at his watch and continued on.
The musician got the most attention from a three-year-old boy. His mother led him in a hurry, but the boy stopped to look at the violinist. Mom pulled a little harder and the boy continued to move, constantly looking back. This situation was repeated with several other children. Without exception, their parents did not let them linger for a minute.
For 45 minutes of the game, only 6 people stopped for a short while and listened, another 20, without stopping, threw money. The musician earned $ 32.
None of the passersby knew that the violinist was Joshua Bell - one of the best musicians in the world. He played one of the most difficult works ever written, and the instrument was the Stradivarius violin, worth $ 3.5 million.
Two days before the performance on the subway, at his concert in Boston, where the average ticket price was $ 100, there was a full house.
Joshua Bell’s subway game is part of a Washington Post social experiment on people's perceptions, tastes, and priorities. The principles of which were: in an everyday environment at the wrong time: Do we feel the beauty? Will we stop to appreciate it? Is talent recognizable in an unexpected setting?
One of the conclusions from this experiment may be as follows:
If we can’t find time to stop for a while and listen to the best ever written music performed by one of the best musicians on the planet; if the pace of modern life is so all-consuming that we become blind and deaf to such things, then what else are we missing?
PS This is a translation of an article written based on the essay of the Washington Post , which received the Pulitzer Prize. The essay is without a doubt more accurate and detailed, but since this is my first translation, I will not master it.
PPS For the reason mentioned above, please do not judge strictly :)