Khora

A lengthy but excellent article which may (or may not) be a referendum on the meaning of art in our culture. Read when you have a good bit of time. It will (hopefully) make us all stop and think-


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...r=emailarticle

Looking forward to your reactions-

Sandy

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mbtpter227

It's sad, really.. I'd love to see what would happen if they staged the same thing somewhere in Europe.

Edit: I'm sorry, I didn't see that this was in ed's section of the forum! Please excuse my interruption.

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Manny Laureano

(A thousand pardons, your Edness...! I neglected to see whether you'd weighed in on the topic. ML)

I had a recent discussion with some friends about this event. It strikes me as a somewhat cynical attempt to prove something it doesn't really prove. Consider: how will people in the act of getting from one place to another (some hurriedly, some leisurely, and the rest in between) react to beautiful music being played?

The answer is: differently from people who pay money to sit in a quiet concert hall specifically for that reason.

The Bach Chaconne as background music in a busy plaza? A piece of music that deserves to be heard from its first notes to its last is being heard first from a distance, then closer, and then from a distance as you walk away. That's hardly how Bach imagined it would be enjoyed.

Then came the more recognizable piece, Ave maria. That one illicited more reaction. Why? Because it's recognizable to more people. It'll attract more attention even from a distance.

Frankly, I don't think it says anything about the state of our art. I think it says that people in a hurry not focused on anything but themselves will hurry to get where they're going and not focus on anything but themselves.

I wonder what would happen if you put Josh in Columbus Circle in NYC between, say, 12pm and 2pm if you'd have the same results. No, it would be different because he'd be in an area between Carnegie and Lincoln Center. The folks in that area would like have more connection to the arts world and probably check him out. I think we're way too quick to use a stunt like that and assert it as prove about how "sad" our cultural committment is. The statement will only ever be how much people will be willing to PAY for said arts event. If we're talking about whether people rushing to catch the next train will stop and smell the roses for one brief moment of beauty, that's a separate issue in my view. That's a bigger problem, as far as I'm concerned but that it's a sad statement about rejecting art I have to disagree.

ML

JunkyT

I agree with Manny (and Kant). This experiment was more about context than some great statement on art. Unfamiliar music when you're rushing to work is just that...not gonna stop too many people, regardless of quality.

It's an interesting experiment, but not one that says anything about the overall state of art. I think it actually says more about Bell through his reactions to it. Fascinating that he got wrapped up in what the people thought to the point that it took him out of his game.

Maybe I've been a broke-ass musician for too long, but all I could think was $40/hr...I gotta get me to the nearest subway! ;>)

I'm not even gonna comment on $1000/minute...

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ecarroll

No problem with jumping in. This article has provoked some interesting discussion this morning at CalArts.

I agree with those who suggest, here and in the article, that the problem might well be context. People hurrying off to work (especially in Washington) are most often lost in their own private worlds.

I must point out, however, that the many fabulous street musicians that I used to hear in various tube stops in London back in the 90's never failed to attract attention -- even a crowd -- and I doubt that Londoners are any less focused upon themselves then Washingtonians are. Maybe their business vs. cultural mindset simply didn't preclude taking 2 minutes off to listen to something unexpected and beautiful? I'm glad that Josh touched at least 6 people. Perhaps they will tell their friends?

Best,
EC

Manny Laureano

That doesn't surprise me as my impression of the Brits culturally is that they have a whole different attitude about down time from us in the States. They have the little afternoon break and after work they don't go straight home. The pub is the destination for a beer with friends.

In America we've gotten into this whole "mult-tasking" business and we have forgotten how to kick back on a DAILY basis as opposed to working our butts off for months looking forward to a two week vacation. Musicians, especially ones with regular orchestra gigs, have much more time off and we understand the concept of chilling out during the work day more so than your average 9-to-5 Joe because the downtime is built in to our lives. Look at how much time I have to post on TM while still working at MO, MYS, occasional teaching, and raising a family. I could never presume to tell a 9-to-5er how to kick back because I don't have a real grasp of their day-to-day pressures.

So, one would think "If there are folks who needs the 2 minutes of beauty in life it's they, the working people." Fair enough. In order to stop and listen to Josh or anyone else they have to have the appreciation for what's being done at the bus stop or train station or mall. Few do through no fault of their own.

I only care about classical music because I have grown up with it. It's part of my personal culture. It's music that came from a place that I only relate to because I'm involved in classical music: Europe. It's no wonder Europeans stop and enjoy the flowers when it's the stuff that is part of their history not just culture.

We're busy playing catch up ball and we've done pretty well as a nation. We've embraced classical music the way Europeans embraced jazz. They have tremendous jazz artists there just as we have tremendous classical artists... like Josh Bell.

What a lot of rambling. Sorry. I guess my point is that we care about what we care about and it's hard to say that because we don't stop to appreciate something means that we don't care about it. It's a bit like the father who knows he should spend time nurturing his kids but opts to stay overtime at work so ther lives are "better". The kids would rather have him home and do with less.

ML

Vulgano Brother

In Stuttgart, it wasn’t uncommon to hear some first-rate street music from eastern European ensembles outside the Liederhalle before concerts. They would supplement their incomes while on tour by playing on the streets. (Keep in mind that lunch money for a German “A” orchestra member was approximately equal to the monthly salary of a Russian professor!)

It is not surprising that world class music has to be “in its place” to get notice in America. (New York’s Salvation Army Band is fantastic, but to the average listener it is just a Salvation Army Band.) If it isn’t on TV, if it isn’t marketed, it can’t be worth anything, especially if it’s free.

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Hags888

I had the same reaction as Manny on this one. Of course people aren't gonna stop and listen to Josh Bell play on their way to work during rush hour. Our concept of time is so micromanaged that many of us have our commutes timed down to the minute. So, if your context is a subway...it doesn't matter who you put in there, during rush hour nobody's going to stop and listen...it could be the worst crap imaginable or Josh Bell...

I said almost the same thing to a bass trombone player friend this morning as Manny...put Josh Bell in a park during the lunch hour and I bet you might see more than 6 people stop and listen. I found the article to be interesting to read in terms of what Josh Bell got out of it, but that's about it.

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robertwhite

I put up my reaction to the story on the thread in the Lounge. My own thoughts echo a lot of what Manny said. My real worry with this whole schtick, though, is that it's really an attempt (conscious or not) on the part of the media to perpetuate the rumours of classical music's demise.

On "All Things Considered" this evening, I heard a follow-up about this "experiment", and it was immediately followed by a review of Josh's new album (with all the opera/vocal selections on it). The reviewer closed by saying that it was really well done and an important release "in a time where classical music desperately needs as much popular appeal as possible" or something like that.

Classical music has never been popular. It wouldn't be what it is if it were ever "popular" in the sense of "worth = broad-based appeal".

Sure, there was a time in history when art and popularity were more closely matched. But speaking for right now -this music we make is special because it REQUIRES attention. Not because it's "difficult", but because it's subtle and organic and not artifically amplified (usually). Also, it takes us somewhere internally that is often ambiguous, emotional, and even transcendent.

This fact scares people who make their livings telling us what we should be listening to, reading, watching, and (especially) buying. If we start actually paying attention to our lives, we might see all this b.s. for what it really is. We might start valuing the inner quiet, mindfulness, and perceptiveness we all naturally posess. We might turn off the TV and stop buying so much crap to distract us.

Consequently, I really believe there is a concerted effort afoot to squash classical music. We see so much energy being spent on equating bull$hit pop music with great art; with lionizing moronic "artists" who have no understanding of what they are doing (not just in music, but all media); and (most importantly), with convincing people who are curious that classical music is outmoded, pointless, elitist, and/or boring.

OK, sorry for the rant. I'll stop preaching to the choir and start breathing again.

rowuk

I put the thread up in the lounge without comment.
I think that there have been some very good points made here, except for one: why not make more of this stuff available?
Of course, you are not going to get millions of people attracted the first time around. When I go to an Art museum ON PURPOSE, I can't soak up everything and label things in my mind for the next visit.
Jerrys' comment on Stuttgart mirrors many cities in Germany. We are used to having those "flowers" around us and after a while, find at least a bit of time to enjoy them. The artists on the street corners here are of various origin. Many come from eastern Europe in hopes of earning extra money to buy instruments or even help support their families. Many are music students with some time on their hands also just trying to make a buck (or Euro in our case). None of them are becoming millionaires, but the good ones get exposure, lose any false pride about what their talents are worth and get practical experience about what endurance is all about. In addition, they are more in touch with what moves the average person - a valuable lesson for the extremely gifted that are often out of touch with the rest of the world!
If I was running a music department in college, I would probably try to organise this into the curricula! I see all sorts of benefits in bringing the arts to the mountain instead of trying to move the mountain to the arts!

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