monoceros blogsI read this essay in the anthology The Best American Non-Required Reading 2008 a while back but it was Olduvai who recently pointed out the online version, which has accompanying videos. Soon after, I chanced upon a follow-up article (I love follow-ups and things that connect!); more on this later.
The main article features Joshua Bell playing his fiddle incognito - Joshua Bell! That alone had my attention. For the experiment, he plays plenty of Bach - Bell and Bach, a lethal combination for me. That aside, the novel idea of placing a virtuoso disguised as a busker in a subway station during peak hour makes the article a terrific example of creative journalism (it won the Pulitzer). It explores the perception of beauty and brilliance, the context for such perception, and priorities in modern life. Would people "stop and stare" at the violin player? How much would a virtuoso earn as a street musician? Would you have stopped? Even if it made you late for work?
But it's really the second piece that's truly inspiring. I cannot recommend the second article enough. Read it, and you'll marvel. You know how there seems to be some pattern in the world that we can't grasp, but sense is there? It's almost as if history has a sense of humor. Whatever it is, I'm very glad I get to witness it on such rare occasions.
Joshua Bell's playlist for L'Enfant Plaza:
Estrellita (Ponce), by Joshua Bell
Meditation From Thais (Massenet), by Joshua Bell
Ave Maria (Schubert), by Joshua Bell
Chaconne (Bach), by Hilary Hahn (my other favorite violinist)
Gavotte en Rondeau (Bach), by Hilary Hahn
All five pieces zipped up here.
Joshua Bell's thoughts on Bach's Chaconne, which he plays twice during his performance at L'Enfant Plaza.
OH! I saw the whole experiment a while back and the interview... can't remember what programme it was or if it was online. Perhaps CharlieRose...
It was fun. =)
thanks for reminding me about things as lovely as this!
Posted by: tiggie at May 1, 2009 1:28 PMforgot to mention that Bach's violin pieces are marvellous... double-stops galore... he asks the violin to tell the whole emotional story with volumes.
thanks for sharing the music!!! xoxo
Posted by: tiggie at May 1, 2009 1:33 PMVan - you know how bizarre this is, but i was just reading that article a few days ago, and heard the Chaconne and the last piece. =) (I was trying to get tickets to the Proms to see Joshua Bell, heh)
Posted by: a l at May 2, 2009 8:26 PMthanks for this! i > saw joshua bell at the proms in 2005 - it was an unforgettable evening. :) did you manage to get tix in the end?
Posted by: ~e~ at May 5, 2009 7:48 PMthanks for this! i > saw joshua bell at the proms in 2005 - it was an unforgettable evening. :) did you manage to get tix in the end?
Posted by: ~e~ at May 5, 2009 7:49 PMA comedian (I forgot whom) once said, "There are no new jokes, just new audiences." Highly apropos, methinks.
Posted by: joseph at May 7, 2009 5:12 PMTigs, have you heard Hilary's Bach violin concertos? Very awesome!
a l, did you get tickets to see Joshua Bell? Tell me how you came to read the article? Some other link?
You're welcome, e! Glad you enjoyed them.
Yes, Joseph, appropriate indeed. Though the similarity between both articles is pretty darn uncanny!
Posted by: monoceros at May 8, 2009 9:18 PMhi van - i'm still waiting for the royal albert hall to confirm i have my tickets - though i noticed they deducted my credit card already. hmm.
i read the article when it first came out I think. this time around, google brought me to the followup article first instead, which was just as much a fascinating read as the original one =)
Posted by: a l at May 9, 2009 11:38 PMhave read the abbreviated versions of this article but not the full length. it's quite amazing. do u htink u could send the link for the 5pieces he played to me? tks!
Posted by: mandy at May 10, 2009 2:35 AM