A virtuoso ignored

[4.9 EF Futura]

I took this from another non-car related forum.

It's quite an amazing read. But kinda sad in a way. Worth the five minutes if you have it to spare.

"a grim danse macabre to indifference, inertia, and the dingy, gray rush of modernity"

[Mongoose]

Americans still wouldnt know good taste if it hit them in the face

[4.9 EF Futura]

Originally Posted by Mongoose10

Americans still wouldnt know good taste if it hit them in the face

Do readers think it'd be a different story in Martin Pl or George St in syd? Or lonsdale st in melb? King william st here in adelaide? I would beg to differ

[TheSneakiness]

Originally Posted by Mongoose10

Americans still wouldnt know good taste if it hit them in the face

It's so damn true though.

[TheSneakiness]

Double post..

[DivHunter]

Oh come off it, anywhere in the world and people are just going to walk past. People have places to be and tings to do so they can pay for the internet and download Bell on Limewire.

[Mongoose]

But he was wearing a t shirt and jeans, i mean, if he was wearing a tuxedo it might have been different

[dan.76]

so we are supposed to feel a sense of loss because common people dont like classical music? why didnt they do the test after work or on the weekend when people had time to stop?
ill bet he had a really pure, clear sound with all the background noise,

[whiskieboy]

Originally Posted by Mongoose10

But he was wearing a t shirt and jeans, i mean, if he was wearing a tuxedo it might have been different

Correct. Its all about perception what we see and hear and what we expect from a Virtuoso. If Eric Clapton or Dave Gilmore did something similar would they get a different response

[4.9 EF Futura]

Originally Posted by dan.76

so we are supposed to feel a sense of loss because common people dont like classical music? why didnt they do the test after work or on the weekend when people had time to stop?
ill bet he had a really pure, clear sound with all the background noise,

Full marks for missing the point mate!! Tidy work!!

But he was wearing a t shirt and jeans, i mean, if he was wearing a tuxedo it might have been different

Perhaps this is the exact issue the writer was attempting to raise?

[new2ford]

When I've seen that sort of thing at European railway stations people often stand and listen, sometimes form bigger and bigger crowds and clap at the end. Its the music of Europe and doesn't have a big following outside Europe. In Australia the railways play classical music on the PA at railway stations to prevent youths with anti-social intentions coming into the area. Apparently they hate it - enough said!

Glad nobody kicked his Strad accidently!

If it was Madonna or somebody I bet people would stop. Except for young children who instinctively prefer classical - enough said again!

[uranium_death]

This is a reflection of the work-a-day world. We're too busy looking after ourselves and careers, we have no time to stop and smell the roses.

It's the way it is nowadays.
Americans may be rude (New Yorkers are I hear), but they aren't inferior. How often do you stop and listen to a busker?

[mcflux]

Didn't ACA or TT (back when they had credibility) perform a similar test in Melbourne where an old bloke faked a heart attack on a busy bridge (with pedestrians, like say near Flinders Station) and it took 90 seconds before someone assisted the "victim"?

[Blue Oval Mopar Man]

Ummmmm.....DILIGAF!!!!!!!!!

[Riksta]

Originally Posted by whiskieboy

If Eric Clapton or Dave Gilmore did something similar would they get a different response

If David Gilmour was just playing on a street corner or wherever, I'd be stopping, calling a certain couple of friends of mine and getting them to come down, and get them to bring a couple of chairs with them. We'd be there all day.

[Interceptor]

And the hurrying people daunt me, and their pallid faces haunt me
As they shoulder one another in their rush and nervous haste,
With their eager eyes and greedy, and their stunted forms and weedy,
For townsfolk have no time to grow, they have no time to waste.

[dan.76]

yay i won something, put the point in laymans terms for me please lol

[Psycho Chicken]

From valid post to American bashing in one post. That's gotta be a record?

I would know about 10 pieces of classical music by name. Just because you don't know something doesn't mean you can't enjoy it. The guy who stopped first was a prime example.

Beats the hell out of some riff raff busker playing yet another post grunge song at Flinders street station.

[pb02]

Originally Posted by 4.9 EF Futura

Do readers think it'd be a different story in Martin Pl or George St in syd? Or lonsdale st in melb? King william st here in adelaide? I would beg to differ

Actually I think it would be a different story. He would probably be mugged or bashed and have his violin stolen!!

I remember years ago watching Hey Hey it's Saturday and they did a similar thing with Tommy Emmanuel. Probably 90% walked past, a few did stop, and one or two actually recognised him.

[robjh80]

Very interesting article, thanks Martin.

What a sad world we live in today, nobody has the time to stop and "smell the roses" or enjoy lifes simple pleasures anymore.........it's all about "rush here, rush there, time is money, cant be late, must compete, have to discredit the opposition etc etc"........what terrible and disgraceful times we live in, and we wonder why everyone is so stressed out and heart disease is our number one killer.

I wonder what the results of this very same experiment would have been through the decades past?, I cant imagine people not stopping and a large and appreciative crowd not gathering in say the 1940's or 50's.

[4.9 EF Futura]

Originally Posted by dan.76

put the point in laymans terms for me please lol

Rob puts it better than i possibly could:

Originally Posted by robjh80

What a sad world we live in today, nobody has the time to stop and "smell the roses" or enjoy lifes simple pleasures anymore

4.9 EF - off to smell the roses for 5 minutes

[Full Noise]

Originally Posted by Mongoose10

But he was wearing a t shirt and jeans, i mean, if he was wearing a tuxedo it might have been different

Damn right there. Someone would have mugged him.

[dan.76]

ok thanks

[GXL078]

I read that they play classical music in Woolongong Mall to stop the ferals from congregating, lol

[Rodp]

...and I would have been one of the thousand to walk right past without much regard.

Classical music doesn't appeal to me at the best of times, let alone a train station with most likely poor acoustics and lots of ambient noise. I also don't really see much point making a judgement based on the behaviours of those commuting to work on a Friday morning no less, talk about stacking the deck.

Perhaps if they made the study on a mid-morning Saturday, things would have been a whole lot different, and have him play in a brighter setting, then record the results. I suspect they'd be markedly different.

People are focused, probably tired, finishing their commute to work, what a shock that they pay little notice to a busker. Those that are using an efficient public transport are likely to time their arrival at work with precision and at the end of the week, you could give free lap dances and most people would still walk right on by.

[Steady ED]

It says he played for "nearly three quarters of an hour", and made "$32 plus change".
Thats pretty good money.

[Interceptor]

for most people, yes, especially in America, but considering what he gets paid for his concert performances, its sfa