tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5586271441870722564.post8909553590900991746..comments2008-11-08T22:52:42.851-08:00Comments on Yes, that Bob West: Pearls before breakfast - A world-class musician in the subwayBob Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16364540120018705314noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5586271441870722564.post-6322783732135257032007-04-09T23:28:00.000-07:002007-04-09T23:28:00.000-07:00adooma--Thanks for the link; I do find her entry ...adooma--<BR/><BR/>Thanks for the link; I do find her entry interesting... Although I think she's missed the point of the experiment.<BR/><BR/>Saw Lady is absolutely right when she says Joshua Bell's no Busker. He apparently lacks that particular style of showmanship (or, at least, he could use a little physical amplification). And maybe he doesn't make eye contact enough, or smile enough, or engage in snappy patter.<BR/><BR/>But it seems to me that the purpose of the experiment was to find out what would happen if a world-class violinist played world-class music in the subway... not to teach Joshua Bell how to be a busker. There's a difference in styles, of course. But I think it's far more valuable a lesson to see what happens when the music is of such stratospheric quality... without the added theatricality. Why should people need flamboyance or dramatic physicality in order to notice great art? Why don't we teach our children -- and ourselves -- to pay attention to beauty? Sure, busking is "an art form of its own". But why should Joshua "busk" when he should be able to simply play to attract attention?<BR/><BR/>And... I hate to say it, but I think Saw Lady may be just a tad overprotective of her territory. But I might well have the same reaction if I were in her shoes. She knows what it's like to busk on a daily basis. there's nothing like a good busker. I've seen them, and I've stopped to listen to them -- and thrown some dough in the hat -- on many occasions, in many cities, and in several countries. They add so much to life, and receive too little acknowledgement. They're irreplaceable.<BR/><BR/>But as Terry commented in response to her post, the point of this test was to find out "whether concert-quality performances would be noticed as such when stripped of all context."<BR/><BR/>One thing I do know is that we're all paying far too little attention to beauty, art and talent around us... whether it comes in the form of a classical musician, or a saw player.Bob Westhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16364540120018705314noreply@blogger.com