This morning, as I enjoyed my coffee, I was delighted by the violin performance of Mr. Joshua Bell. I have a friend in the church with that same name. I wonder sometimes if my friend and brother has ever listened to Mr. Bell, the violin virtuoso, or if he's even aware that he shares the same name as that of a famous classic violinist? I will try to remember to ask my friend that sometime.
I was quite intrigued by the story of how Mr. Bell spent some time one day inside of a busy subway terminal in Washington, D.C. playing for the busy crowd who came and went mostly without any notice at all of this famous violinist. Mr. Bell did this to help a Washington Post writer, Mr. Gene Weingarten, with a story that he would write. The experiment was to see if anyone would even notice that an internationally known violinist was performing free of charge for the ordinary people or are we, as a nation, losing our grasp on beautiful classical music.
What an interesting adventure this was to be. Mr. Bell agreed to do it out of his own curiousity a little, I'm sure. Here was a classical violinist who garners $100 for even a mediocre seat at his, standing room only, performances about to play for free in a busy metro subway. How many would listen to or even recognize him? For the performance Mr. Bell dressed down in jeans and tee-shirt and a baseball cap. He placed his open violin case on the floor and seeded it with a few dollar bills and change thrown in. Would this man, in his late 30's, who appears onstage in tuxedos before thousands of listeners be recognized or even listened to--for free--by strangers in a busy subway station?
Below is a link to the article written by Mr. Weingarten and a YouTube video of the event. I hope you will take time to read this wonderful article by Mr. Weingarten to get the whole story. I believe that it will be worth your time.
Mr. Joshua Bell
Loved it! At the Feast in Ohio one of these past years, this same story was mentioned in a sermon! (yes, Josh Bell knows he's got a famous double!) :)
ReplyDeleteHi Sarah...Thank you for your comment. Thanks for letting me know that our Mr. Bell knows that he has a famous name. (smile) I hope you have a blessed day.
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