A BE NICE Story

[NewHope]

At a Washington, DC, metro station on a cold January morning in 2007, a man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time, approximately 2,000 people went through the station, most of them on their way to work. After three minutes, a middle-aged man noticed the violinist, stopped for a few seconds, then hurried to meet his schedule. Four minutes later, a woman threw a dollar in the hat and continued to walk. After six minutes, a young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.

After ten minutes, a three-year-old boy stopped but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. This action was repeated by several other children. Every parent, without exception, forced their children to move on quickly.

When the musician finished playing, silence took over. No one noticed. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition. Only seven people had stopped to listen for a short while. The musician collected a total of $32.17, contributed by a mere 27 of the passing travelers.

No one knew it, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin valued at $3.5 million. Two days before, Joshua Bell sold out a theater in Boston where the price of seats averaged $100.

This true story was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste, and people’s priorities. The questions raised: In a commonplace environment at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?

One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this: If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made, what else are we missing?


source : .beniceorelse.newsletterl