Would Beauty Transcend?
Posted by Jessica on Apr 12th, 2007
What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
– from “Leisure,” by W.H. Davies
I just read an incredible article by the Washington Post in which they posed the question, “In a banal setting at an inconvenient time, would beauty transcend?” They enlisted one of the world’s greatest classical musicians to play on his $3.5 million 1713 Stradivari violin some of the most transcendent violin pieces ever written. And he did this posing as a street musician in a Washington D.C. subway station during morning rush hour.
The article is incredible, complete with video clips. Click here to read it.
-Jessica
p.s. Thanks for the link, Jeff.
Addendum: In contrast, this video currently has 635,911 views on YouTube. Hmm.
April 12th, 2007 at 10:21 pm
There is a great response to the Joshua Bell article by a NYC subway musician in her blog: http://www.SawLady.com/blog
She interprets the situation differently from the Washington Post reporters… I thought you might find it interesting.
April 12th, 2007 at 11:24 pm
I agree with “Saw Lady’s” blog (link above) in that truly performing and relating with the audience is vital for a performer in a setting like a subway stop. I thought of some of the street musicians I have stopped for, and they’ve usually been the really entertaining, engaging performers, not necessarily the most skilled. The Washington Post article, I believe, does allow for that as well as the point they make about “framing” and context.
However it is still a valid point they raise about how we can miss truly excellent art and beauty because of our schedules and personal distractions.
-Jessica
April 13th, 2007 at 9:04 am
I just emailed about 100 people that article (^) you guys wrote, quoting the entire thing. That is quite an amazing story, and thank you guys for always sifting through life to find the best of it!
April 14th, 2007 at 11:38 am
Great article! It’s amazing to me that noone stopped. Yet, at the same time, I know that I don’t take the time to pause and look at the small, inspiring things I must pass several dozen times a day either.
I love reading your blog, even if I mostly just lurk…
ALso, what’s your guys’ mailing address in Korea? Email me! –Stock