Do you have a moment… for pure genius?

Paul McCartney did this in London once; played for a couple of hours, made sod-all. I think it was included in his film 'Give My Regards to Broad Street'.

More to the point, the Dude has a website?! That's 31 flavours of awesome.

The lesson I took from this story was that people have very little sense of intrinsic value — that people are much more likely to value something based on the social cues surrounding it.  If you're in a concert hall where everyone paid $100/seat, you “know” that the music must be good (regardless of its intrinsic quality).  If you're in a subway corridor, the music must be at best middling and amateurish.  People aren't paying attention to the thing itself, but to the cues surrounding it.

Another fun DIY example of this (esp. in the Bay Area) is a blind wine tasting party.  Especially if you've got some friends that think they know something about wine!  Without the labels and the price tags, even most people who claim to like and think about wine can't tell the difference between a $50 bottle and a $5 bottle.  Show them the prices, and people reliably pick the expensive stuff as the one they like.  They'll even change their mind after the fact, altering preferences recorded while the bottles were blinded!

So, I think we're clearly missing a lot in the objective outside world because our preconceptions and social cues are far stronger than our powers of impartial observation most of the time.

This is an excellent story to revisit, again and again. Can we stop to smell the roses?

I sometimes think of children as short-sighted and self-centered, unlikely to take the long view or to practice slower-better thinking. There may be some truth to that, but they are obviously capable of recognizing things that many adults–who are probably thinking about a longer time-frame (relatively) than their children–do not. Sometimes we widen our perspective only to miss what's right in front of us.

Finally, the evidence we needed to prove Bach is dull and juvenile.

“A thing of beauty is a joy forever.”

The irony of so many people being bound to the clock and their schedule, and the efforts of the Long Now Foundation to build a clock that will work 10,000 years from now is not lost on me :)

It's violin and it's classical music. Let's be honest. Not too many people care about either unless they want to appear sophisticated.
Replace violin with guitar and Joshua Bell with Joe Satriani and you can bet your last dollar there'd be a huge crowd to watch him.

Ah the irony of your post starting with the phrase, “Somehow I missed this story. . .”

The true value of attention, like all other natural resources, will only be fully appreciated when we've effectively consumed it all.

Nobody there was in a context (to borrow a GTD term) where they could appreciate it – maybe only the kids who maybe didn't understand the pressures felt by their parents to get somewhere by a certain time. Wearing your nice clothes in a comfy seat in a Boston theatre, warm and relaxed after a drink in the lobby is way different to proceeding in a crowd through a station with cold feet, no coffee and a place to be in too little time. I would have noticed him, I think, but probably would not have been able to stop. Even if a big sign said “Josh Bell, $100 value free!”.

Zane, I've had that wine party experience – forgot I was supposed to take a bottle until the market closest to the house. $9.99 wine was voted the best.

Interesting experiment, but set up I think for biased results. The choice of venue in this case is not arbitrary “context,” but a place where people are of necessity focused and in a hurry.

I'm not saying the results are insignificant, but I'd like to see the study done in other places, times, and choices of apparel.  Would a popular urban park during lunch break, with a tuxedo have yielded somewhat different results?

Beauty matters to nearly everyone, but that doesn't mean we can risk careers, school grades, medical appointments, and so on for it at every opportunity.

That said, my lady and I do often marvel when we walk out of a store and into an exceptional sunset evening, and no one else seems to be noticing.

This doesn't surprise me at all. Most people haven't a clue about music and what is good or bad. Just look at the success of the Pop Idol nonsense in which none of the performers can sing in tune for two minutes let alone put on a note perfect performance of sophisticated music for an hour.

What I take from this story is that as amazing Joshua Bell is at playing an expensive violin, he isn't a good street performer. Big deal.

How many other things are we missing?

Always stop and listen to street musicians.  No matter how badly they play, they add to the environment. Like hearing Mr. Bell in the Metro, sometimes you get an amazing treat.

Great article, thanks again to Google Reader Play.

I conclude that beauty has to be overwhelming, with either a captive or expectant audience, for it to be recognized.

Please take 2 minutes to read this. Pretty amazing.

I tried a blind wine tasting with my friends, ranging the wines from $4 cask up to a $200 French bottle.  Everybody picked the cask wine.  It was a little harder up the top end.

This social experiment is covered in depth in the outstanding book “Predictably Irrational”.

As I was reading this, I was thinking that people were predisposed to ignore the guy and just think he was another panhandler looking for money.  Before I entered this comment, I decided to read the others first and I saw that  Zane and R.A. hit the nail right on the head. 

No matter how great his music was or the instrument he used to play it, the setting, timing and circumstances were such that people were basically set up not to notice.  Only those with a keen sense of music, and not in a hurry would realize the depth of his performance.

This doesn't surprise me at all. Repeat experiment in a park or square at lunch, when people aren't rushing to work. Timing is everything. And every genius knows that. 

PS. I notice RA Robertson has said the same thing below. But I had this thought before I saw it so my observation is valid :)

Interesting….

DC, where everyone is focused on themselves.  Where a hello or a smile to a stranger is viewed with suspicion.  Where panhandlers flock to the entrances of the metro try to make a living.  Yes, I can see why a talented musician  would be ignored.  An unfortunate casualty of the mighty dollar and power.  Can't wait until I leave next summer.  Not my kind of town.

What a great article. I think I have found one of these same kinds of quiet geniuses on youtube! Youtube? Isn’t that where I go to watch silly cats and people getting hit in the nuts, well, yes. But its also where you will find scratchmybackerman a comic named Dave Ackerman and his “How to be funny tips” This is funny/brilliant on many levels what I wonder is do other people get it for what it is or is he another violinist in the metro?

Do you have a moment? Youtube.com/scratchmybackerman watch a few, you won’t regret it.

The other possibility is, we don't actually recognize good music.

We have to be told it is good, and we use it as a form of status signalling.

I vow to stop and listen to the music……

Take time to stop and smell the roses.

Interesting social experiment.

Behold beauty, take a moment to breath, listen and observe. This story is interesting – the comments are as well.

Now is the time.  Stop.  Listen.  Be Happy.

On the mall in Washington DC many people gather to listen to plastic bucket drummers. The metro is a place of hurriedness, of rushing to get where you need to be. I would have loved to be there. I would have loved to stay and listen.

I once saw a cloud formation of such stunning beauty that I went back inside the store I had just exited and literally dragged a couple of employees out to the parking lot to see it before it was gone forever.  They thanked me…

I love beauty of every kind–music is something that has always drawn me–I KNOW I would have stopped, listened and tipped this player–and probably would not have recognized his face but certainly would have loved the music!! I love the sounds of nature:the bird singing, the wind rushing through the trees, distant children playing, the softly snoring older gentleman snoozing on a park bench–There is so much to be captured that will lift us up if we will just pause and let it come to us!

I think the people who are talking about blinded wine tastings should read the actual Washington Post article. Even people who don't listen to classical music would be able to tell the difference between Joshua Bell and a random street performer if they actually compared them. I think that's not really the point.

Certainly, people rushed by, and it's true that he didn't draw a crowd — which isn't very surprising in one of the busiest subway stops in D.C. But it wasn't just kids and experts who noticed his talent, either. In a funny moment, the woman who ran the shoe-shining station said of his performance that it was the only time she hadn't called the cops on a too-loud busker. Anyway, the article is a good read.

(http://www.washingtonpost.com/…

My neighbor from Russia (she is a die-hard American who wears her country on her FoxTV sleeve!) calls me several times during the week to take a walk with her.  I need the exercise, but I spend more time indoors, playing Squash.  Sometimes, I'm too tired to take a walk with her, as she usually wants to watch O'Reilly (ahem), then walk.  She comes home from work at around 7:30pm.  She then explained to me how in her native country, everyone takes a walk outdoors to feel the brisk air, and to observe nature.  It is a part of the culture.  They also bundle their babies in their buggies to sit outside to take in the fresh air.  A friend of hers was visited by Social Services in MA for this practice, considered child abuse here.
When she asks me to walk, I try to oblige, knowing that I spend too much time sitting at this contraption that allows you to read my tale.  She's right. It is a good thing to be with nature for a 40 minute walk.  I always come back happier.  When she walks by herself she doesn't need a distraction, like an iphone or ipod.  She walks.  She's likely going to move at some point to be with her boyfriend.  I'll walk with her as much as I can, if time permits.  I know it's good for me.  And we live in a lovely area where trees surround us.  So, yes, the Joshua Bell story is a good one; but we don't need a virtuoso to take up our attention.  Merely observing our surroundings is something to consider.  Slow down when you walk.  You'll likely accomplish more when you get to your destination!  We are all running and going nowhere, in the long run.  Time won't stop because you arrived somewhere on time.  You'll get there anyway.

people are stupid as hell, that's all.

people are stupid and ingnorant as hell. that's all. politicians, military, vendors know it for sure.

Wow.  I feel sorry for you.

yawn – i had to get to work. so sorry for not stopping

Hard hitting questions! Also, raises a question on us who would line up to buy those $100 tickets for the concert..

I find violin to be very annoying, like constant high pitched squeaking.  I really dislike violin solos and violin features in my classical music.  I can deal with cello and the deeper strings but violin just makes my skin crawl, so no, I wouldn't have stopped to appreciate this guy.

incredible…

I don't like fiddle music. I do love the fact that Paris PAYS musicians to perform in Metro system. Artists must audition thereby insuring their quality.

No musician who wanted to be heard for any more than a few seconds would never play in a place where people were rushing to catch a train, or bus.
Not to be too snarky but, these questions are way too deep.

Wonderful!!!! How true this is!!!  In time God will wake us all up to appreciate what is really before our eyes!!  We are so blessed to be able to see it and hear!!!!  Thanks for sending Sus lanie

To Mr. Robertson: And which place would have been more significant?  I definitely disagree with the statement that all people in the metro are in a hurry. Many of them certainly could have taken the next train as they would have done if they had met a friend on the streed and stayed there chatting for a while.  I think that “the hurry” often is an excuse for “the ignorance”….

Wow, This story just gave me the chills.  In the last 3 weeks I have been taking the bus and the train in CT.  By having to do so, I have found the time to really look around while walking in between.  I do now take the time to look around more and appreciate people, places and the flowers etc.  I am not shocked though that this wonderful music maker was somewhat ignored by many, as people only think about where they have to go and who they have to meet and if they should get a coffee first or not. WHY YOU ASK???  Because many do not have a hold of their spirit inside.  They have been raised to worry about money and success.  I pray that everyone will wake up and enjoy what is real and meaningful.  Life goes very fast and if we don't stop now and take a good look at ourselves and what is most important, It WILL be too late…..Faith in a higher power instead of faith in money and success will bring love and peace to the world…..I wish I was there to listen to the amazing Mr. Bridges, because I certainly would have said thanks for taking the time to play for us…

I don't know why you feel sorry vB, like I said before, I hate violin music, makes my skin crawl, hurts my ears.  Cello, Bass, viola, I'm good, violin is too high pitched for me.  Not everyone likes everything you like.

Very interesting!

One thing I've noticed is the location is a big factor. Here in Portland OR, many people will set up outside and attract a lot of viewers. I'd like to see the same experiment done here.

Also I bet if he wore a suit the viewers would be increased 10 fold.

It was a statement of a fact. I think it is true as well. No need to make it personal.

this show how stupid the public is

I think you're right. Beauty is relative. And it's harder to appreciate beauty from something unknown.

There's probably only 1 in 1000 people in the city who appreciates classical music. Maybe even less…

It is not strictly the public that is lack of conscious enough to realize true beauty in front of the eye. Did Joshua Bell realize the wealth of individual beauty that passed him by in the Metro station that cold January morning, or was his impeccable narcissism too damaged to notice?

It could have been that the noise he was making did not have the ability to stop people in their tracks and move them, even though it was intricate and brilliant and expensive. It's all about emotions.

When people pay for something ($100 / seat) they put value into it.  People enjoy wine when it's expensive, and use things they pay for.

This is kind of an ignorant post.

I live in Buenos Aires, and it is fairly common to have very capable musicians playing in the subway. It's always nice to see them getting some recognition (some people, like me not only enjoy the music but also expect it as it is a pleasant way of starting the day). I think it amounts to the cultural level of the city in question.

How many would have stopped for a good cover of a popular artist for example?

It's interesting to think about the other side. Like you point out, the experiment itself even brings up many sociology/psychology concepts.

I believe that this instance confirms what my brother told me 40 years ago when I was 11 years old…..”The masses are asses.”

What was the piece?

I don't know. I understand what the results of the experiment were meant to insinuate, but I live in a metropolis with lots of street musicians too, and most of the performers get freaked out if you stare at them for a long time.

I actually think that Mr. Robertson's comments were exactly on the mark.  I agree that not everyone is in a “hurry” at the metro but everyone is *going* somewhere.  Their minds are engaged and their bodies are in motion towards getting to some place.  It's not the type of place or mindset that makes people want to stop and listen.  A park, outdoor market or other setting where people aren't actively in motion with a goal of getting somewhere far away would have a very different result.

A very good friend of mine is a musician, plays in metro stations, markets, etc.  The difference in the audiences' attention levels in the different settings is very notable.

Very interesting, however usually when a price is put on the value of any given thing it is then that it becomes worthy, although this shouldn’t be the case people in this society equate high prices with quality because we are conditioned this way overtime.  Its ironic how the children were more attentive  because they are not brainwashed as we are therefore they can pick up eclectics better also they have no job to run to or no worries to cloud their minds so they have the beauty of perception, taste and no priorities

wow

Nobody knows what they want

if wearing a tux changed things, that would be just more of the same point, no? (and i'm pretty sure the changes you mention would definitely affect the outcome, just as you figure they would). our brains are just wired like this. most people find food tastier when its on fine china in a plush restaurant, and so on. joni mitchell wrote a song many years back about this phenomena, “for free.”

or maybe…he was concentrating on playing? people arent really good at multitasking. and no reason bell would be free of the same brain wiring as the people in the subway. not arguing, and i dont know if bell's narcissistic, so i guess i;m wondering why you call him than and presume about what he did or didnt notice? does he have a rep for being a douche or something?

exactly.

i think you're also correct, tho surely a few folks still like classical…

kids shortsighted? they seem often empathetic and sensitive to me (not all kids, but many). adults, otoh, seem shockingly shortsighted and self-centered in far higher numbers. just look at how things get done (or get neglected) in ways that are /certain and known/ to cause trouble later. again and again. kids, their brains are still growing and they don't have much experience of things. but adults…oy vey.

fiddle, ok, but how about violin? lol. (fiddle style is like, irish and bluegrass and sometimes country…)

lol! he may indeed be a shitty street musician. its an art in itself. good point.

wow, where do you live? i never heard of that before (i play music)

you're right. he funny!

Wait, did everybody else miss this?  He got 32 bucks in 45 minutes, and it was clear nobody was appreciating his music?  Wow, 40 bucks an hour for hanging out down in a subway station doing what you love to do?  I would be willing to bet most talented musicians don't make that much even if they play for a living.  Maybe I'll give up my job and start hanging around down in the subway. But I can't play a note.  Oh wait, we all just established that musical ability doesn't mean squat down in the tunnels with the slack-jawed masses.  As long as you're down there with a hat for a handout the money flows freely. See you down in the tube!

an interesting question provoked by such a beautiful idea

SO TRUE

You have a good point.Not to argue, just inquiring -> have you ever practiced a single act so much that you become nearly “perfect” at it.  It requires an immense amount of energy to achieve such a state.  I feel it is relatively safe to assume that the violinist is close to being “perfect” in performing the act that he has devoted nearly all of his waking energy toward.  Please allow this loose association…to not assume that he is narcissistic about being as “perfect” as one could be at an act the one has devoted such an incredible amount of energy toward, would not be consistent with human personality. In order to protect his ego (his ego would be hurt if he found out he is actually not good at something he devotes such an incredible amount of energy toward), his personality will assume that he is one of the best violinists of his time (in the strict sense, this does not fit the criteria of narcissism  but it fits the layman's use of the word).

wonderful experiment.. kudos to the the does and the promoters

Time to slow down and smell the roses. And listen to the music.

I would like to point out that in the clip, posted by the Washington post, on youtube a woman actually recognizes him and says quote: “I saw you at the library of congress … it was fantastic (…)” 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnOPu0_YWhw

Joe satriani is old stuff. Put an half naked chick and some tecno music, and maybe you'll get some money

We are undoubtedly missing many things. Beauty is all around us. Our ability or interest in participating determines how much of it we “get”. And unfortunately it is a function of time.  According to a recent PBR story, beauty is a commonality that transends culture or relgion and can unite us.

Thought this was great.

Most people are just too “busy” I guess!

I think what matters here is the question, “How many other things are we missing?” in the context of our perceptions and our priorities. Great question!!! That's true journalism in my opinion.

This experiment summarizes the whole concept of “Awareness”. This is what every spiritual teaching is abt (irrespective of what religion its been branded as). Our experience /understanding / actions  are influenced merely based on the brains ability to respond to the nearest logical memory of the past. This can be referred to as reactive living (humans live their entire life as just as a spontaneous reaction). We continuously miss everything right here right now just coz we live in either tmrow or yesterday. Simply saying “Living in the Moment” and that’s what the kids were doing but unconsciously..

Most people are too inwardly focused to see what is going on around them – much less appreciate this gift.

What chance is there for usI

Pure crap. An excuse for the author to feel superior to the masses. Acoustics suck. People are on a mission to get somewhere. Most people (myself included) cannot tell world class playing from a good amateur; I wonder if the author could differentiate?

I guess it helps one to feel superior to think that ” the others” cannot appreciate beauty and should be lectured about how to live their lives. Walk a mile in their shoes before pretending you know what is best for anyone.

Maroon.

I saw many awsome musicians when I was in Boston!
Stoped , listend, and gave a few bucks.
You never know?

inevitable

It is an arbitrary context “our lives” in which we are of necessity “focused and in a hurry”. 

Come on. Really?!?

As we grow older, our priorities change. We evaluate things in “utility” not beauty. Another thing, beauty matters to everyone, but then beauty is qualitative.

In another 1000 years Bach will remain Bach! In another 1000 years I am definitely not going to remember much of what I did during my life.

It's amazing, children who were not biased towards notions of making money, getting to work, purchasing groceries, recognized this as something to be at least given second thought. While we grown-up just slog it off in the rat-race.

Beauty is temporal and fleeting, and once experienced, eternal, We must take the time out and appreciate it.

Fantastic!

I do not believe in the idea that as we get older our appreciation of things is tied to their utility. My mother is almost eight-eight years old and was so busy with life; raising her children, building a business with my father, going back to complete two additional degrees (after we left home) and being an educator. I never heard her express an appreciation for any spontaneous  beautiful things in my life, but when I take her on outings (she still lives alone but does not drive often) everything she sees is so pretty and appreciated by her. So, this time for beauty is not (at least for her) a function of age.

Somebody remarked that beauty is eternal, well I never considered that. Carly Simon wrote a song that says, “Love is eternal, life is imortal and death is only a horizon.”  The first time I heard those lyrics I was driving and had to pull off the road just to think about it. Guess beauty is eternal as well.  That is a good idea too.

I live in the country where the only music we get out of doors is typically, the sounds of nature or farming. You can bet if a street musician played on the streets of our mostly rural, southern town, it would be not only appreciated, but written up in several area papers, on local tv, and never forgotten. And, the musican would be invited to eat home cooked meals with several folks and asked  if he could'nt stay and move here at least for a spell.

i think, u didnt get Khanslamanahmed's point here..he didnt said that appreciation of beauty is a function of age. the words he used is ” as we grow older”, which means that as we grow up, our time is more filled up with practical things and we got very less time to appreciate beauty..but people are always there who always have time to give value to such beauty even in their busy schedule

PERFECTLY said

It may be more of a case that adults are less likely to be in a mental space compatible with devoting significant attention to music appreciation when they're on their way somewhere and have to be at another platform in a couple of minutes.

I would hazard that adult mentality is more compartmentalised than children's, and that given a situation where they were concentrating on the music, they would quite easily be able to tell the difference between good and bad.

While rushing around with other things on their mind, however, the music isn't categorised as either good or bad – it's just background noise of no immediate significance.

WOW. just WOW… must read

Compartmentalization.

Very possibly true.  

My intuition is still betting on status signalling, but maybe I'm just cynical.

given that the philadelphia orchestra has filed for bankruptcy one wonders as to how many are actually paying 100$ to listen to good music these days. its mostly hip hop that gets mass attention. if there were some people playing hip hop in the metro i am sure they would have got more attention.

I love this experiment, and agree with the questions raised and the possible conclusion above. I would also like to add, however, that by situating this experiment in Washington, DC, the experimenters were setting themselves up for perhaps the most extreme result they might have found in any U.S. city. The coldness of the people in this town is numbing and rather shocking to many new arrivals, and even after 20 years here I have not become fully accustomed to it. Also, this is a town with little interest in the arts, in spite of a lot of artistic activity. Everything here is subsumed to the power game. Everything. If it had been Obama's daughter playing poorly, she would have been attended to by hundreds of people and been noted in the Washington Post. The game is everything in this one industry town.

If this experiment had been done in a town with more basic humanity, which includes almost everyplace I have ever been in the nation and the world, it might have been a little different.

When we go to a theater we have carved out time to sit there and watch/listen. People in a train station necessarily have places to go no matter how beautiful the music is. If they had done this on a street they would have had many more people stop and admire it

¿Qué más nos estamos perdiendo?

I've never noticed, but I suppose I've rarely stopped for anyone. I'd like to think that if I heard one of the most amazing pieces of music performed so beautifully I'd stop, but now I'm not so sure. British singer Jessie J, who is an absolute gem, performed at Times Square station and only a handful of people stopped. Can we really be so dull to ignore beauty at our fingertips?

This has been an amazing, insighful experience. Perhaps this will cause me to become more aware of my surroundings and appreciate everything. It's a shame, really. We associate with names, faces, but not the real beauty if it is unknown (with the exception of hipsters who enjoy exclusively indie bands, but this is ignorant as well). When true talent stares us in the face, most of us hide. Why?

I understand your point about people being busy and on a mission to get somewhere. I'm pretty certain you're wrong when you say that 'most people cannot tell world class playing from a good amateur.' Perhaps you can't, but I assure you that most people (those not familiar with classical music) would recognize the difference between a violinist like Joshua Bell playing Bach and a good amateur playing Bach. But perhaps what you mean to say is that most people just don't care enough to listen and watch for the few seconds in which they'd be able to make such a distinction. I'd understand if you said that (even though I may not like it myself).

Perhaps most people just don't care for the violin, however well it is played? I know my personal music collection contains almost none of the so-called 'greatest music ever made'.

Interesting

I agree. I think the better location would have been in the middle of the third street prominade in los angeles, where street performers are constantly staging shows.  Some go noticed and so unnoticed. That might be a better experiment.

I've stopped to listen to musicians in Grand Central Station, New York, at ground level. Not sure I'd feel safe stopping for long in a subway station. I've seen people stop and listen to all kinds of music and speakers on the sidewalk in NY City.

For an 'experiment' you would need controls, such as someone with the a violin case open to receive money and not playing anything.

Love.

I would hope I would stop to listen…I would hope.  I can understand the parents who were hurrying their children along.  I do that so often.  This is a good reminder to stop and listen and see art all around me.

Worth the read…

This is how I feel when I I'm bathing in the privacy of my own bathroom, and no one's there to see how great I look naked.

the subway is by definition a place of movement, not reflection on the beauty of a particular sound.  On the other hand, I have witnessed a similar situation at a local market where two very talented violinists played duets that only caused people to stop once they started to play in the style of popular 'fiddling', referencing the 'country' context of the market.

If I'm in a hurry, or on a time crunch, I wouldn't have stopped to listen either. We have no idea what was going on with the people in the subway. It's entirely possible that someone playing music there is a daily occurance. If he were doing this in a grocery store, at a bank, or somewhere else where everyone wasn't rushing to grab the next ride to their next destination, it would've probably had more of an impact. Those who stuck around probably had a few minutes more to spare than the people rushing by them. The children aren't in a hurry, they're on their parents schedule and probably didn't understand why they couldn't stay and listen to the music. I don't think these children thought to themselves, “Oh, what amazing music. This stirs my soul. I must stop and soak in the beauty of the moment.”

On some level I think we'd all like to step back and appreciate the beauty that's around us which we miss constantly because of the rush rush lives we lead. I understand what the point of the story is, I just think the way the people behaved was out of normal, daily routines and this “guy” was just another sidewalk musician.

I like this experiment. But I think that the romantic side (a genius plays in a metro station) is covering the illogical side (a genius plays in a metro station). Few people are able to find the genius in unexpected places. And I wonder if the genius can be shown everywhere and regardless of the place. Especially in a metro station. Many important artists have had the same result. And I have a question on the economic comparison : would you pay 100$ to listen to the same artist at the Metropolitan Theater in New York with same noise of a metro station in background? Isn't “absolute beauty” a matter of environment and opportunity and (as in the case of classical music) some preparation of the audience? The room we leave to this kind of epiphanies is really packed up with other priorities that hide many possibilities.

Here in the epicenter of self-righteous elitism, the barbarity of the modern soulless drone is exposed through mere casual indifference.

Everyone seems to be racing through life…to get where?  What is so important that they couldn’t stop to allow their child to listen to the music?  Perhaps the parents were concerned that they would feel obligated to make a “donation” for having experienced such beautiful music.

Hmm… I stop for those sorts of things… There was someone doing a magnificent job of playing a French horn in the Paris metro the other day.  I didn’t stay long term, as I was going to an important meeting.  But I definitely noticed and paid attention…

mmmmm ponder – obviuosly most peopl miss bueaty and mispel or sutin

wish i could have been there. wow. 

Reading this gave me goosebumps! The intriguing questions made me reflect on what I might be missing in my own life.  Thank you for writing this for us to read and learn from.

Unfortunately everyone is in such  rush that you miss out on different types of beauty wether it be music, sky, birds and loved ones.  Everyone needs to stop stressing so much and figure a way to reduce the every day hustle and bustle.  I understand easier said then done but sometimes it’s just a simple as leaving your home 5 minutes earlier.  Life is to short and precious to let it slip away from stress and responsibility besides money is not everything in life.  It might make your life easier but brings other complications.