Sometimes the tubes of the internets are pretty awesome. Just when I was beginning to wonder what ever happened to well written pieces of journalism, I read this one. Someone read it and sent the link to someone who sent it to Ottmar Liebert and he posted the start of it on his blog with a link. It's really kind of interesting and - like I said before - well written. Bravo Washington Post Magazine for going with it amd thanks Gene Weingarten for writing it.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
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"If we can't take the time out of our lives to stay a moment and listen to one of the best musicians on Earth play some of the best music ever written; if the surge of modern life so overpowers us that we are deaf and blind to something like that -- then what else are we missing?"
The quote above says it all!
It bothered me that all the children were fascinated, and their mothers wouldn't let them stop.
There have been several times that I've almost been late for work because the Northern Lights have been too breathtaking to walk off on. I hope I never lose the ability to enjoy the free beauty in this life!
The thing is, I didn't like his selection at all. The two videos I saw were Baroque pieces. Now, Baroque architecture is da bomb. But Baroque music puts me to sleep. Anything written before Beethoven, save a few select pieces, to me is boring. Yes, that includes Mozart.
I don't really see it as a Koyaanisqatsi moment because I would have been one of the people who walked right on by.
Now, here are my recent experiences with street musicians. During Christmas, two teenagers, a boy and a girl, played some Christmas renditions of their violins. They took turns playing first and second violin. While their pieces weren't half as complex as the piece he was playing, I stayed for several songs and gave them each what I had in my wallet, which made their day. Their performance was worth it, because it was the moment.
The other notable experience is in Chico, the town I was living in. There was this emo guy who had a voice that made mine sound good and he had an acoustic and would sing on the street corner. I intentionally avoided him so I wouldn't be obligated to giving him any money, because he sucked. So I took the long route to work, walking a block around him.
Had this violinist been playing Paganini, Tchaikovsky's, Bruch's, Brahms', or any other notable violin pieces from the Romantic era, I would have stopped to listen.
Tmom - Yeah, the kid that was fascinated was kind of cool. That seems about typical of our society today. Everyone thinks they are too rushed. We're only rushed because we make ourselves believe we are.
That's why so many people walk around with blinders on - never thinking that blinders were made to be put on horses to keep them from being distracted from pulling their loads.
ZS - I have to agree with you about the selection. It wasn't my favorite choice either, I don't mind the early stuff.
I also don't think it was a completely fair experiment...it would have been more telling if it was during the evening rush home when people might have been more inclined to stop.
Good points, Shawn!
A LOT of people are like draft-horses. All they see is their NEED to make more money so they can buy more THINGS. :(
I would also be curious to see if more people stopped during evening rush hour, when they're not worried about being late for work.
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