Music and Metropolitans

The news is out, and has been for a week almost two weeks, but if you haven't read it yet, it's still new news to you.

It was an experiment: What would happen if a world renowned musician started playing on a street corner of a North American city?

It happened. But you need to go read what happened. Pearls Before Breakfast

This is not just a news article. It's a report, and a very detailed report, of a simple experiment that reveals some profound and complex realities. About humanity, and about society.

Amid the white noise of chattering radios and the hustle/bustle of morning rush hour in Washington DC, one morning there came down the Metro escalator the thrilling sound of the master's touch on the violin.

How did people react? Well, if you go by the vast majority, they stalked right on by, without even looking.

I feel so sorry for them. Not because they missed seeing a famous person in real life, but because they missed a whole lot more than Joshua Bell. They missed the music - no they didn't all miss the music, they couldn't avoid it, but they missed appreciating the music.

Some things I still don't understand. It's obvious that one major reason why they didn't appreciate it that morning was because they never took the time to appreciate it any other time. But still, suppose all you ever listened to was white, pink, and black noise - chattering radios and urban hustle/bustle: Wouldn't you think that such music falling on the unaccustomed ear would cut such a contrast as to lift the heart and soul enough to raise the eyes?

Now maybe I'm biased, because being as familiar with music and violins as I happen to be, I would have known in two seconds that this was a master, and in two more seconds that he was playing on a master instrument. I know those things because I listen for those things, and I listen for those things because I appreciate those things. It would have been impossible for me to pass by.

Or, hmmm - do I listen because I appreciate, or do I appreciate because I listen?

It's both, of course. I listen because it has intrinsic value which is inarguable, and listening expands upon that until it becomes more and more valuable.

Reading that very detailed article, this is what I couldn't help thinking: This illustrates the tragic relationship that the world has with God. He can stand on the street corner and give us gifts of the most immeasurable value, and they stalk right on by without looking. If Joshua Bell was in Carnegie Hall, they pay for the tickets and sit quietly, and applaud wildly. If they're in church, they dress up and sit at the right time, kneel at the right time, sing at the right time, and walk in and out at the right time.

But when they meet on the streets the next morning - ignorance is bliss.

What happened in DC was pathetic, but what happens every day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, is tragedy.