tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4762650915556247085.post7362025363831238091..comments2022-12-17T05:23:24.452-08:00Comments on 4Cats Art Cafe: IntermissionJulia Hensleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03903754419774050666noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4762650915556247085.post-88563724624070073532009-03-29T10:49:00.000-07:002009-03-29T10:49:00.000-07:00Wow! I can't imagine not stopping to listen to Jos...Wow! I can't imagine not stopping to listen to Joshua Bell! What an interesting experiment. Thanks for sharing this, Julia.Becky Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05252708837418181664noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4762650915556247085.post-73756657852825557532009-03-29T09:57:00.000-07:002009-03-29T09:57:00.000-07:00Terry, I know - we'd like to think we would at lea...Terry, I know - we'd like to think we would at least stop and listen for a moment, if not recognize the excellence. I think it's great if you are open to noticing, I think we can choose to have that openness or not. There's an old Chinese man who sits in front of Nordstrom sometimes, playing that one-stringed traditional Chinese instrument. He was there one Sunday recently when I came out of the store. His music is skilled and soulful and changes the air of downtown Seattle into somewhere sensuous and exotic. Down the way from him, I heard another man, the same age, playing the same instrument, but in a very basic way. It was not transporting, but you could hear his love of what he was doing and how difficult it was. It was affecting, somehow, and made me appreciate the first guy's virtuosity even more. I could have spent more time with each of them. Next time, I will.Julia Hensleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903754419774050666noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4762650915556247085.post-18466248468384477892009-03-29T09:47:00.000-07:002009-03-29T09:47:00.000-07:00Tamar, so good to see you here. It is an amazing s...Tamar, so good to see you here. It is an amazing story and experiment, isnt' it? Your comment makes me homesick for Boston! It's interesting, I do understand peoples' rushing because they have a train to catch or somewhere they have to be - but even so, you would think there would be at least more heads turning. I wonder if sometimes city dwellers have trained themselves to be blase on purpose, to deliberately NOT be impressed or distracted by anything that will slow them down? Sort of a "yeah, yeah, yeah, seen it all, don't bother me" kind of attitude. Because, as Joshua Bell himself points out in the article, they can't possibly have not noticed, he was making so much noise (with the exception perhaps of the guy in the story with his iPod cranked up). I'm doing great!! I'll send you an email, really good to hear from you. JuliaJulia Hensleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903754419774050666noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4762650915556247085.post-74609249448291791972009-03-29T08:34:00.000-07:002009-03-29T08:34:00.000-07:00Thank you! What a great story. Made me stop and ...Thank you! What a great story. Made me stop and ponder...would I have recognized the virtuosity? I would like to think I would have stopped for a few minutes to enjoy it anyway. I think when we (my husband and I) are out and about, we usually notice and enjoy public performances whenever possible.Terry Sargent Pearthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03051494400698884966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4762650915556247085.post-76927281223868364232009-03-29T06:44:00.000-07:002009-03-29T06:44:00.000-07:00Julia, this is a great (real) story. I was a child...Julia, this is a great (real) story. I was a child in Boston where there were a lot of street musicians and I guess I would always stop and listen because it free music seemed like such a gift. It's hard to imagine people not stopping to listen to Joshua Bell's music, even if they didn't know it was him. I wonder what he thought of the experience? $32/hr for his playing, no clapping? It seems as much a study on him, as well. I hope you are doing well! Cheers! TamarAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com