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Author: Tobin
Date: 2007-04-08 20:35
You can find it in the Washington Post. In 45 minutes over 1000 people passed him that morning...and essentially three people recognized him.
He made less than $33.00.
Gnothi Seauton
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Author: glin
Date: 2007-04-09 00:30
It's sad, I must admit. Two points I'd offer.
1)Most people that take the Metro during the morning rush hour are on the way to work and the clock is ticking. Stopping to listen to a street musician isn't a priority.
2)It's sad that so many people did not recognize Joshua; classical music just isn't a popular form of music.
George Lin
Fairfax, VA
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Author: EEBaum
Date: 2007-04-09 01:46
There are very few musicians I'd recognize visually. Most of my favorites I know by reputation, and, while I'd recognize a particular recording or a particular interpretation of a favorite piece, there are very, very, very few I'd recognize by sound alone. As someone who is reasonably acquainted with the classical world, I wouldn't have recognized who he was, though I'd have probably stopped and listened a while.
I'd also suggest that he's badly positioned. When I put money in a musician's case, I generally spend a short time determining how much money I want to give. He is positioned in a corridor between two doors. By the time hurried commuters recognize that he's there and make the "is this guy any good?" determination, they've gone through the other door. They probably couldn't hear him well before they entered the first door, and don't hear him once they're through the second door. 10 seconds of opportunity at most. Not to mention that he's significantly away from the path of traffic.
I also recall having a particular dislike for that metro station and a desire to leave it ASAP when I visited DC about 12 years ago.
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2007-04-09 02:22
Having spent most of my life in the Washington, DC, area, I'm not at all surprised by the outcome.
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Author: skygardener
Date: 2007-04-09 04:20
It's very likely that people can't recognise quality due to the context. If one sees a musician in a station they might think a lot of things, but 'This might be one of the world's best' is not likely to enter their mind. Context is a big part of marketing, not only the product itself.
Post Edited (2007-04-09 04:44)
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Author: SusanT
Date: 2007-04-09 06:06
What surprised me about this article is how few people even appreciated what he was doing as they passed, even noticed that he was better than your average violinist... one guy passed about four feet from him and didn't even notice he was there thanks to his iPod.
Only seven people out of over a thousand stopped for more than one minute. Yeah, of course they're all on their way to work and such, and we're all busy people these days. But sixty seconds isn't long. One of the men interviewed afterwards said that he only had three minutes leeway on his trip in... but he stopped and spent those three minutes there.
To me, that says more than just "folks can't recognize a great violin player"--it says that by and large, we're so busy and single-minded and stressed that we won't recognize anything beautiful or wonderful unless we're paying money for it, and we'll only pay money for it if *somebody else* said it was wonderful first.
That makes me a little sad. And it reminds me that I'm often the same way, and that I should try to be more open-minded about the world I'm in.
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Author: skygardener
Date: 2007-04-09 06:27
I think the results would have been very different if he'd been playing in the afternoon or in the evning when people get off work. It looks to me that this 'study' was designed to produce this result.
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Author: cjwright
Date: 2007-04-09 14:10
Wasn't it Barenboim who complained about hearing a masterpiece like Brahms Violin Concerto in an elevator? Is there any wonder people just tune out music?
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2007-04-09 14:38
I'm not sure I would have recognized him while walking quickly by (I've been surprised more than once by someone pointing out who I just walked by without recognizing them) and if I was on my way to work I wouldn't have had time to pause and listen. As someone pointed out - maybe after work. If I were early and didn't have to run to my train ...
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Author: DougR
Date: 2007-04-10 01:50
I wanted to pass along this link to an online chat Gene Weingarten (who wrote the article and set up the experiment) did today in the Washington Post. Gene's chats always draw a rich, diverse, insightful bunch of commenters, and this chat thread is exemplary along those lines, very enjoyable. (I think there's a longer video segment of Mr. Bell performing included as well, PLUS!! a short clip of Bruce Springsteen performing "The River" a few years ago, busker-like and anonymously, in Stockholm.)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2007/04/06/DI2007040601228.html?hpid=topnews
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Author: Koo Young Chung
Date: 2007-04-10 03:20
If we use classical sales number to estimate roughly how many people
listen to classical music,then we can guestimate that 3-5% of people listen to classical music.(sales figure for last few years,which is getting smaller)
If we take 5%,then about 50 persons are classical fans among the morning passengers.
Of those 10 of them probably wear ipod or are on the phone.
10 of them didn't hear him playing at all because of the train's roaring.
10 of them don't care about violin music at all.
10 of them never heard the Chaconne(or whatever he's playing at that time) ever.
Then we can safely say about 10 persons know the music and probably like it very much.
Of those 10 people, 3 of them stopped to listen and even reconized who he was ?
I think it is very good number!
I'm glad anyone recognized him at all.I'm sure the majority of readers here wouldn't know him by the looks.
(Everage (American)person has 0% of chance to being exposed to classical music unless his/her parents listen to it.)
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Author: C2thew
Date: 2007-04-10 06:14
"I think the results would have been very different if he'd been playing in the afternoon or in the evning when people get off work. It looks to me that this 'study' was designed to produce this result."
I think the study was designed to see who actually pays attention to someone that puts effort into music and how many people would pause a moment and just appreciate in awe the resonance and talent. Truth is, most people are always in direct competition with entertainment. To the average American, it appears as if it's just "some guy" playing the violin as the setting of where Joshua Bell is performing isn't a typical place for a performer of his status to be.
People have different priorities. and yes, ipods are taking over the world.
http://blog.wired.com/photos/uncategorized/ipod_overthrow.jpg
Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. they are but improved means to an unimproved end, an end which was already but too easy to arrive as railroads lead to Boston to New York
-Walden; Henry Thoreau
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Author: Tobin
Date: 2007-04-10 13:09
A quick insert...Koo Young Chung:
The train's roaring would have had no impact. DC's system is a little different (I'm not saying it isn't loud) and the passengers have a 1:15 escalator ride to that exit.
So Bell's playing was and could be heard for at least a one whole minute if not more.
Can't argue with the iPod comment though.
The experiment was not to determine whether Bell would capture CLASSICAL MUSIC appreciators. To what degree would a virtuoso performing a variety of excellent music capture attention? On what level would brilliance on his level impact those who could hear him?
The answer is that in these conditions no impact, no appreciation.
To those that argue with the timing of the experiment, follow DougR's link to the Weingarten transcript...it was a logistical decision. I don't disagree with the choice of times anyway.
I would have liked to believe that a musician of this caliber would have pierced the commuting veil more successfully. I do believe it is a cause for concern...but the average american already has so many causes for concern.
James
Gnothi Seauton
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Author: OpusII
Date: 2007-04-10 13:26
why didn't he play at one of our train stations....last Saturday I had a 2 hour delay … would have loved to listen to him…..
Eddy
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Author: DougR
Date: 2007-04-10 13:30
Here's the Law of Unintended Consequences at work:
Josh Bell plays the DC Metro. A handful of people notice.
Gene's article runs. Hundreds of thousands (I don't know, maybe a million or so) people read the article, click the video links, listen to the clips of Joshua Bell.
Gene's online chat runs the next day, hundreds of thousands (maybe 000,000s of people) read it, comment on it, think about it, listen to the Josh Bell clips.
Here we are, on this fringe little board, doing the same thing.
I'm willing to bet there are hundreds of thousands of people who, like me, wouldn't have known Joshua Bell from Elmer Fudd, until now. And who, perhaps, wouldn't have owned a Joshua Bell cd, but now, perhaps, do -- or will.
Hmmm. I don't think you can draw conclusions about the death of classical music from this incident. Possibly...just the opposite?
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2007-04-10 14:52
If I were to judge Washington DC tastes in music from what I hear coming out of automobiles sitting at stoplights (which is nearly all the time on our overcrowded roads), then I would conclude that NOBODY listens to classical music around here (except for Larry Bocaner!).
![[grin]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie5.gif)
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Author: LarryBocaner ★2017
Date: 2007-04-10 18:57
Now wait a minute Spiegelthal! A couple of weeks ago I arrived at a rehearsal simultaneously with Chris Hite; getting out of our cars at the same moment we were listening to the same music on XM. That already doubles the number of classical music listeners in DC!
But seriously, if Joshua Bell had been playing at the Foggy Bottom or McPherson Square metro stations I'm sure he would have had many more appreciative listeners among the GWU students/faculty and the K Street lawyers and lobbyists! I think the Post stacked the deck by choosing a station inhabited almost exclusively by civil servents putting in their time waiting for retirement!
However you have just explained to me why my wife keeps turning down the volume in the car when I'm tuned to the Met Opera and NY Phil broadcasts.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2007-04-10 19:51
Greatly interesting comments - Listening to classics on KOSU [Okla State] this PM, I believe to NPR, "our" J B and his "exploit" has been mentioned several times !! Since he has played rite hear in River City, some of us here might have recognised him, or at least his playing expertise, partic. if it were Mozart !! Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: John Stackpole
Date: 2007-04-10 23:34
And maybe the guy who walked right in front with the iPod buds in his ears was listening to Vivaldi.
Yeah, right....
JDS
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Author: bawa
Date: 2007-04-11 09:59
John,
I love your optimism! truly!
John Stackpole wrote:
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Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2007-04-11 15:40
Someone commented on the relative unfriendliness of the L'Enfant Metro station. Yes. My husband used to work at a building near there. I felt unsafe in that station and always walked through and got away from there as fast as I could, particularly after a friend of mine from Washington Area Writers was murdered (random robbery) just outside the station as she exited one night.
Still, I think I would have stopped for Joshua Bell!--although I would have stayed well away from his violin case with the cash displayed in it. Since it was a "candid camera" situation, I assume the reporter provided security, but I sure wouldn't pick that station for busking without a bodyguard.
One strong note of encouragement in that report: Apparently *every* child passing by took interest in the violinist and wanted to stop. Alas, all of the busy parents huddled the kids along, but this report reinforces my own observation that kids allowed to hear classical music, in a context where nobody's shaking a finger in their faces and saying, "This is good for you and you will listen or else," find the music fascinating and enjoyable.
Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2007-04-12 15:27
I might not have recognized him, but I would have certainly been impressed and BLESSED by his generous performance. I would have never passed by without putting money in his case. Interesting. Beautiful music.
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Author: grifffinity
Date: 2007-04-12 17:56
Lelia wrote:
Quote:
One strong note of encouragement in that report: Apparently *every* child passing by took interest in the violinist and wanted to stop. Alas, all of the busy parents huddled the kids along, but this report reinforces my own observation that kids allowed to hear classical music, in a context where nobody's shaking a finger in their faces and saying, "This is good for you and you will listen or else," find the music fascinating and enjoyable.
Great point Lelia - and I agree, that this experiment reinforces several problems with our society. First, we've become so hurried and self-focused as a society, we've allowed little time to "smell the roses". Our hurried nature as adults trickles down to kids - in the form of structured free play such as Little league and other adult organized activities. Studies have now shown this type of structure actually leads to more disinterest in later life - most kids quit little league type activities at age 12 because it is no longer fun. Likewise, how many kids were forced to take piano lessons - only to hate the experience and avoid "classical music as adults? To keep interest in classical music alive, we musicians need to improve our methods of teaching and communication.
I would have recognized Joshua Bell because I watch PBS - and have seen him several times over the years. I also visit MyAuditions and other music related sites, which link to various media - so I can name many of the famous faces of classical music. However, I have this free time because I do not have children. If I did - I doubt I would have 10% of the free time I have now to pursue my continuing education. I can't fault people with geuinely busy lives for not recognizing Joshua Bell.
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2007-04-13 13:17
To play devil's advocate, I'm sure that lots of those commuters were regulars. Going to/from work, and have heard so many musicians playing in the metro that they unconciously learned to tune it out and just assume that it wasn't worth listening too. So it may have not been that they didn't care for THIS particular musician or playing, just that they have learned throughout their daily activities not to leave extra time hoping for a good musician to be there.
I would like an experiment repeated but in an environment where people HAVE extra time. Not in a location primarily used for travel to/from business, but a location typically used on spare time, for relaxation and pleasure. Central Park, a riverwalk somewhere, etc.
US Army Japan Band
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Author: Jhall
Date: 2007-04-13 17:20
I've been teaching over 35 years and I don't make $33 in 45 minutes! Of course I don't play like Joshua Bell, either.
I think it's a nice comment on commuters, and Joshua, that he took in that much money for that short peiod of time.
Just my 2 cents worth.
John
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Author: Tobin
Date: 2007-04-13 17:33
In all my traveling on the DC metro I have never noticed that many street musicians. It is not that much a part of the culture.
Sfalexi: All those commuters were regulars. I'd wager that there is almost never any musician at THAT metro stop.
Repeating the process in an environment that offers a greater amount of idyll time defeats the purpose and dilutes the result. It amounts to rigging the experiment so that we can feel better about the results and how our art is appreciated.
This was a tough test for musical brilliance. In this case (which is not universal) the commute won out.
For those arguing that the setting was extreme: The performer and his performance were equally extreme.
James
Gnothi Seauton
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2007-04-13 18:01
good points james. I see what you mean about them WANTING the setting to be extreme, but by also combatting the setting with an extreme musician.
US Army Japan Band
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Author: JessKateDD
Date: 2007-04-14 00:11
I read the story with interest. And the Washington Post site has the entire audio, and the playing was excellent throughout. You would think that more than one percent of educated Washington business people would recognize that a great musician was playing for them.
It reminded me of a classic Candid Camera episode from the 1950s - opera star Robert Merrill posed as a barber and sang as he cut peoples' hair. This was back in the day when the Saturday Met broadcasts had ten million listeners a week. Everyone knew his name, but few knew his face. Still, you'd think they'd know his voice! Not a single customer recognized him. Most were polite. A couple suggested he sing professionally. One customer, for whom he was singing the Barber of Seville in duet with himself (the radio was playing a Met broadcast of him singing the title role), said "you're good, but you ain't no Robert Merrill!"
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Author: Ralph Katz
Date: 2007-04-14 12:24
Confessions of a former busker
This is the life of a busker. People are all trying to get somewhere, do something, see someone, go about their lives. There you are, making music and trying to collect some dough. Some people will have time to stop and listen, and others won't. The game is to be interesting enough so that some people will stop and listen, but it is unfair to assume that everyone will care to do this, or be able.
For someone used to playing venues with 1,000 paid customers and up, this may seem like a big letdown. But the truth is, the people in the subway are probably pretty busy already and may just not have the time, in addition to being hardened by the real bad things that might happen to them down there. No matter how clean or modern, there are lots of places that many people are wary of dawdling.
Actually, he did pretty well. On our next trip there, we all should try our hand at busking and report back how it goes.
Regards,
Ralph
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Author: nes
Date: 2007-04-14 16:11
Okay I love to listen to classical music. I really enjoyed the article. I would have liked to watch more clips.
To be honest I did not know who Josua Bell was until the article. I am glad I do now and shall never forget it, but I'm sure tons of classicla music lovers wouldn't know of him.
However, despite this, I almost certainly would have stopped. I often am running late, my organisation requires more work, yet I prioritise. I would have noticed early on that I was listening to quality stuff.
I am not the average business man in Washington, yet it really surpirses me only a handful of the 1000 people stpped to listen! My view is that is disgraceful, and even considering classical music's poor popularity, more promotion needs to be taken.
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Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2007-04-15 13:04
>>In all my traveling on the DC metro I have never noticed that many street musicians. It is not that much a part of the culture.>>
One reason it's not part of Washington, D. C. culture is that busking on Metro property is illegal. In fact, the shoeshine woman at L'Enfant routinely calls the cops on buskers who play in there. They annoy her. She told Gene Weingarten (the "Washington Post" reporter) that she decided not to call the cops on that violin guy, even though he annoyed her, too, because he played so much better than most!
When my husband's EPA office moved into new quarters in the Ariel Rios Building, at the Federal Triangle Metro stop, I used to meet him there and hook a ride home with his carpool when I spent the day in the Library of Congress up on Capitol Hill. There used to be a gawdawful saxophone busker just outside the Fed. Triangle station. I think he only knew one piece, "Take Five"--but he played it, sort of, in 4/4! Better believe I walked past him as fast as I could. Then he disappeared and, about four years ago, a trumpet player took up mercifully remporary residence. (Buskers usually leave for one of three reasons: They can't afford another bust; they move away; or a new busker who wants the territory beats them up.) The trumpet player sounded even worse than the sax player. He played, sort of, from (I swear I'm not making this up) a Rubank beginner book.
Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.
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Author: Tobin
Date: 2007-04-15 14:33
Lelia,
That has always been my experience in and around DC. Twice the reason that Bell's music should have appreciated?
James
Gnothi Seauton
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Author: Old Geezer
Date: 2007-04-16 16:53
Hey, get real folks...it's the morining rush hour in a noisy terminal. We usually cut it really fine in the morning trip to work and can't lose even a minute or two. Our minds are already in the office, the idle noise of the trip shut out.
Put him in the park on a sunny day with people about on benchs eating lunch and a crowd would have gathered in a minute.
Joshua's a world class fiddler...but he's another one of those jumping jacks that feel only by going into a St. Vitus dance can he really do Bach right!
There's a YouTube of Heifitz doing the Chaconne without moving much more that his bow arm and left hand. He was the eye of the storm!
Clarinet Redux
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Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2007-04-17 12:57
Some people called Heifetz "The Great Stone Face." Great fiddler, and I'd rather see the Stone Face than someone grimmacing and prancing, although I can't agree that Bell behaves that way.
I did hear a good fiddler busking in a Metro station once, a couple of years ago. He was standing at the bottom of the stairs in Capitol South, and he was playing the Chaconne from Bach's D minor Partita. Young black guy, about college age, and extremely good. I put some money in his case and listened, since that's about the safest station in Metro (a block from the U. S. Capitol and across the street from the Library of Congress). Unfortunately, just a couple of minutes after I stopped, a Metro cop came along and told him to get lost--although I noticed that the cop waited until he finished the Chaconne.... I heard a good classical guitarist down there once, and a good string quartet on the Mall outside the Smithsonian stop.
I thought that stunt with Bell looked like a bit of a put-up job. If you want to earn money by playing classical music, L'Enfant's not the right station and the height of the morning rush hour's not the right time. If you want to prove people are all a bunch of ignorant Yahoos, that's when you pick a rush-rush-rush commuter pileup in a dangerous neighborhood, like L'Enfant. I would have been curious how Bell might have fared at Smithsonian or Capitol South, the stations favored by the better classical buskers.
Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.
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